Low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma of the breast: a review with focus on imaging and management

Low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma is a less frequent variant of metaplastic breast carcinoma, incidentally detected during screening and has an age distribution similar to other breast carcinomas. It shares characteristics with both benign and malignant carcinomas: its mammographic and sonographic features are therefore nonspecific. Breast conserving surgery with adjuvant radiation therapy is currently the preferred therapeutic approach. The aim of this review is to describe the imaging and clinical features of low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma for appropriate identification and diagnosis. The associated pitfalls, histopathologic and epidemiologic factors, natural course, and management of low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma are also discussed.

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Low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma of the breast: A diagnostic and clinical challenge

International Journal of Surgery ◽

10.1016/j.ijsu.2015.05.010 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 19 ◽

pp. 22-26 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Qing Ting Tan ◽

Esther Wee Lee Chuwa ◽

Sung Hock Chew ◽

Soo Kim Lim-Tan ◽

Swee Ho Lim

Keyword(s):

Adenosquamous Carcinoma ◽

Low Grade ◽

Carcinoma Of The Breast ◽

Clinical Challenge

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Low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma of the breast: A case with pathogenic germline mutation in the BRIP1 gene

Human Pathology Case Reports ◽

10.1016/j.ehpc.2020.200444 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 ◽

pp. 200444

Author(s):

Gahie Nam ◽

Rochelle Strenger ◽

Marlene Cutitar ◽

Yihong Wang

Keyword(s):

Germline Mutation ◽

Adenosquamous Carcinoma ◽

Low Grade ◽

Carcinoma Of The Breast ◽

Brip1 Gene

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Low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma of the breast: A case report with cytologic findings and review of the literature

Pathology International ◽

10.1111/j.1440-1827.1997.tb04490.x ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 47 (4) ◽

pp. 264-267 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Soichiro Shizawa ◽

Hironobu Sasano ◽

Takashi Suzuki ◽

Hirhi Ishii ◽

Tetsutaro Takeda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Case Report ◽

Adenosquamous Carcinoma ◽

Low Grade ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

Carcinoma Of The Breast

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Low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma of the breast—A case report with a BRCA1 germline mutation

Pathology - Research and Practice ◽

10.1016/j.prp.2010.01.008 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 206 (7) ◽

pp. 511-513 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Jean-Christophe Noël ◽

Frédéric Buxant ◽

Corinne Engohan-Aloghe

Keyword(s):

Case Report ◽

Germline Mutation ◽

Adenosquamous Carcinoma ◽

Low Grade ◽

Carcinoma Of The Breast

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Low-Grade Adenosquamous Carcinoma of the Breast: Imaging and Histopathologic Characteristics of this Rare Disease

Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal ◽

10.1016/j.carj.2012.09.002 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 64 (4) ◽

pp. 339-344 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Elena P. Scali ◽

Rola H. Ali ◽

Malcolm Hayes ◽

Scott Tyldesley ◽

Patricia Hassell

Keyword(s):

Breast Carcinoma ◽

Breast Imaging ◽

Adenosquamous Carcinoma ◽

Malignant Neoplasms ◽

Low Grade ◽

Imaging Features ◽

Carcinoma Of The Breast ◽

Histologic Subtype ◽

Breast Masses ◽

Sonographic Appearance

Low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma is a rare histologic subtype of breast carcinoma that has a variable mammographic and sonographic appearance, which overlaps with both benign and malignant neoplasms. Because of its lack of unique imaging features, a diagnosis of low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma is based on histopathology. The recognition of this entity is an important consideration in the differential diagnosis of breast masses and carries implications for prognosis, which is more favorable than other types of breast carcinoma.

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Imaging features of adenosquamous carcinoma of the breast – A rare variant of metaplastic breast carcinoma

BJR|case reports ◽

10.1259/bjrcr.20210108 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 20210108

Author(s):

Tiffany Marian Sae-Kho ◽

Asha Bhatt ◽

Malvika H. Solanki ◽

Elizabeth B. Jeans ◽

Kimberly S. Corbin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adenosquamous Carcinoma ◽

Ductal Carcinoma ◽

Case Series ◽

Screening Mammography ◽

Metaplastic Carcinoma ◽

Whole Body ◽

Low Grade ◽

Imaging Features ◽

High Grade ◽

Carcinoma Of The Breast

Adenosquamous carcinoma of the breast is a rare subtype of metaplastic carcinoma, which accounts for <1% of invasive breast malignancy. Metaplastic carcinoma is usually high grade and aggressive with typically reported benign imaging features when compared to invasive ductal carcinoma. However, the adenosquamous variant is a subtype with a more favorable prognosis. Within the literature, there is limited imaging description with case studies focusing on metaplastic carcinoma. Herein, we report seven cases of the adenosquamous subtype describing the imaging findings with correlation to clinical history and pathology. The majority of patients (n = 6) presented with palpable breast masses. One patient was identified through screening mammography. Mammographically (n = 6), tumors appeared as irregular masses. Sonographically (n = 7), tumors appeared as irregular masses ranging from solid to mixed solid/cystic masses. On MRI (n = 1), one tumor appeared as an irregular rim enhancing mass. FDG PET/CT (n = 2) and whole-body bone scan (n = 1) were also available for review. The majority of tumors were low-grade (n = 6) with only one high-grade tumor. This case series of seven patients demonstrated predominantly suspicious imaging features despite the majority being low-grade tumors.

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