Carcinoma or Sarcoma of the Breast

Abstract

Carcinosarcomas comprise less than 1% of invasive carcinomas of the breast. They are a heterogeneous group of malignant tumors in which part or all of the carcinomatous epithelium is transformed into a nonglandular component by metaplastic growth process. We report a case of carcinosarcoma of breast. She was a 62-year-old female who presented with complaint of pain and lump in left breast of 6 months duration. There was a discharging ulcer measuring 4 ×6 cm over the nipple of 1-month duration. Computed tomography of chest and positron emission tomography report was suggestive of carcinoma of left breast with left axillary lymphadenopathy and lung metastasis. Histopathology of the tumor was reported as infiltrating duct cell carcinoma (IDC) with angiosarcoma. The IDC was estrogen and progesterone receptor negative and Human Epidermal Growth Factor -2 receptor positive. The angiosarcoma was positive for vimentin, vascular endothelial growth factor, CD34, and CD31. The Ki-67 labeling index was 60% and the epidermal growth factor receptor was positive. This is a case of carcinosarcoma of breast adding to the existing literature.

Keywords: Breast, carcinosarcoma, metaplastic carcinoma