Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast: a case report

Abstract

IntroductionSquamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the breast is a rare variant of invasive breast cancer that has been classified as metaplastic carcinoma. When a tumor is composed of spindle cells, diagnosis is challenging.Case reportA 42-year-old woman with a large mass in the right breast underwent modified radical mastectomy. A pathological examination revealed a tumor with central necrosis in it. The tumor had a sarcomatoid growth pattern and the cells were spindle-shaped with severe atypicality. Immunohistochemical staining showed that P63, P53, vimentin, and CKpan were positive, whereas estrogen receptor and C-erbB-2 were negative. Ki-67 proliferation index was as high as 90%. Therefore, a diagnosis of SCC of the right breast was made. The patient received eight cycles of postoperative chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin, followed by seven cycles of radiotherapy. During follow-up, the patient also had a left thyroid tumor, and postoperative pathology suggested microinvasive follicular carcinoma. Since breast surgery, the patient has remained disease-free for more than four years.ConclusionSCC of the breast with spindle cell and sarcomatoid features is rare. The diagnosis of such tumors requires exclusion of tumors with similar histological morphologies.