E-cadherin immunohistochemical analysis of histiocytoid carcinoma of the breast

doi:10.1053/adpa.2002.33880

Annals of Diagnostic Pathology

Volume 6, Issue 3, June 2002, Pages 141-147

https://doi.org/10.1053/adpa.2002.33880 Get rights and content

Abstract

Histiocytoid carcinoma is a rare type of invasive breast carcinoma. It has been considered to be a variant of lobular carcinoma, a variant of apocrine ductal carcinoma, and an apocrine variant of lobular carcinoma and to resemble lipid-rich carcinoma. In attempts to elucidate its histogenesis, investigators have used mucin and oil red O histochemical analysis and GCDFP-15 immunostaining. E-cadherin is a relatively recent addition to the armamentarium of immunohistochemical markers used for cell differentiation and is a member of a family of transmembrane glycoproteins that has been shown to have a strong correlation with the histologic phenotypes of breast carcinoma. Most ductal carcinomas show diffuse membrane expression of E-cadherin, and lobular carcinomas are characterized by complete lack of membrane staining of E-cadherin. The object of this study was to use E-cadherin immunohistochemical analysis to help clarify the histogenesis of histiocytoid carcinoma. Fourteen cases containing the diagnosis of histiocytoid carcinoma of the breast were identified at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX) from 1988 to 2001. All cases were rereviewed, histologic features were evaluated, and immunohistochemical staining with E-cadherin and GCDFP-15 was performed. Clinical information was extracted from the patients' medical records. Eleven cases met published histologic criteria for histiocytoid carcinoma. The remaining three cases were apocrine carcinoma. The pattern of tumor infiltration was solid, without secondary lumen formation in all cases of histiocytoid carcinoma. Lobular carcinoma in situ was identified in eight cases, but was absent in three. There was no E-cadherin immunohistochemical staining in eight of the 11 cases of histiocytoid carcinoma (72.7%). GCDFP-15 was immunoreactive in all 10 cases of histiocytoid carcinoma where it was performed. Follow-up data was available for nine of the 11 cases of histiocytoid carcinoma: six patients were alive with disease at 1.5 to 48 months, one patient had died of disease at 60 months, and two patients had no evidence of disease at 32 and 45 months. We conclude that histiocytoid carcinoma has an immunophenotypical profile consistent with both ductal and lobular differentiation. Moreover, the lack of consistent morphologic features, a specific clinical profile, and a distinct immunohistochemical pattern lead us to hypothesize that histiocytoid carcinoma is not a special type of breast cancer. Ann Diagn Pathol 6: 141-147, 2002.

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Histiocytoid variant of invasive lobular breast carcinoma. A case report and literature review
2021, Annals of Medicine and Surgery
Histiocytoid breast carcinoma (HBC) is a variant of invasive lobular carcinoma. The occurrence of HBC is rare and the natural history and clinical course of HBC is still not well known due to limited numbers of reported cases. In reality, many tumors have been misdiagnosed and reported as benign lesions.
A 66-year-old- postmenopausal women, who has previous personal history of right breast invasive ductal carcinoma, for which she underwent right breast wide local excision with negative sentinel lymph node biopsy and received adjuvant radiotherapy and hormonal therapy. Two years later, a new left breast suspicious lesion was detected by Imaging. Breast Ultrasound showed left breast hypo-echoic area at 12-1 o'clock with irregular spiculated lesion 3 cm away from the nipple with posterior acoustic shadowing measuring 1 × 0.7 × 0.7 cm and mild tissue distortion with thicken cortical left Axillary lymph node. Mammography of both breasts confirmed the left breast lesion at 12o'clock with necrosis and irregular margins measuring 1.1 × 1.0 cm. MRI breasts showed, left breast heterogeneously enhancing mass at 12 o'clock with no other suspicious mass in the left or right breast. Ultrasound guided left breast biopsy of the suspicious lesion seen at 12-1 o'clock which confirmed the diagnosis of invasive lobular carcinoma, histiocytoid variant She underwent wire guided left breast wide local excision with left sentinel lymph node and axillary clearance. Final histopathology showed invasive lobular carcinoma, histiocytoid variant.
The recognition of histiocytoid breast carcinoma is often a challenge, particularly when histiocytoid tumor cells occur in a metastatic site before the primary diagnosis of breast cancer. An awareness of histological features are needed to make the accurate diagnosis.
Findings that support the correct diagnosis include identifying tumor cells with more cytological atypia, the presence of cytoplasmic vacuoles and secretions. Moreover, coexistence with invasive lobular carcinoma and/or lobular neoplasia and the use of immunohistochemistry to confirm their epithelial nature. clinico-radiological correlation is essential, as any discordance should trigger further diagnostic determination.
Mesenchymal tumours of the breast and their mimics: a review with approach to diagnosis
2016, Pathology
Citation Excerpt :
By immunohistochemistry, the epithelial nature of the neoplastic cells and the extent of tumour involvement will be highlighted by cytokeratin (Fig. 6B). Histiocytoid carcinoma represents a heterogeneous group; most tumours show a lobular phenotype with loss of E-cadherin staining.146 There is variable positivity for ER, PR and HER2.145
Mesenchymal tumours of the breast comprise a broad spectrum of entities that frequently pose diagnostic challenges to surgical pathologists. Metaplastic carcinoma and phyllodes tumour are site-specific mimics that account for the majority of tumours in the breast with a sarcomatoid appearance. Although uncommon, mammary tumours with fibroblastic, adipocytic or vascular differentiation may be encountered, spanning the spectrum from benign to malignant. Tumours with histiocytoid morphology are potential traps due to bland cytomorphology and resemblance to reactive processes. This comprehensive review provides a diagnostic approach to specific challenging mesenchymal tumours of the breast and their mimics, with a discussion on the salient morphological, immunohistochemical and molecular features that allow accurate diagnosis and will help the pathologist avoid potential pitfalls.
Invasive Lobular Carcinoma of the Breast
2012, Surgical Pathology Clinics
Invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast is a distinct histologic type with specific clinical, radiologic, and microscopic features, which is increasing in incidence in the Western World. Routine pathologic prognostic factors, including grade, lymph node stage, and size are of significance in predicting outcome in this group of patients who, overall, have survival comparable to those with other subtypes of breast cancer. Variants, however, are seen and these, as well as other standard factors such as histologic grade, have prognostic significance and should be recorded in pathology reports.
Less Common Variants and Mimics of DCIS
2012, Surgical Pathology Clinics
Citation Excerpt :
Most reports of histiocytoid carcinoma are of invasive lesions, which are thought to be a variant of lobular carcinoma or apocrine carcinoma. These cells may, however, be seen in a ductal pattern, supported by strong membranous staining with E-cadherin and the presence of an associated component of DCIS (Fig. 2).17,18 On occasion the bland cytology of histiocytoid DCIS may mimic normal histiocytes contained within a ductal space (Fig. 3).
The purpose of this review is to discuss the less common variants and mimics of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). DCIS lesions are heterogeneous in clinical presentation and behavior, morphology, biomarker profile, and identified genetic aberrations. DCIS is most easily recognized when presenting with classical features. The diagnosis is more challenging when a lesion displays less common cytologic features and has architectural patterns that overlap with other benign or malignant entities.
Histiocytoid carcinoma of the male breast
2011, Annals of Diagnostic Pathology
Citation Excerpt :
Since that initial report, more than 30 cases have been described, all of which occurred in female patients. Histiocytoid carcinomas of the breast have been proposed to be uncommon variants of lobular carcinoma [2,3]. Other investigators proposed a histogenetic relationship to breast cancers with apocrine differentiation [3,4].
Histiocytoid carcinoma of the breast is a rare tumor with approximately 30 cases reported, all occurring in female patients. We report the first case of histiocytoid breast carcinoma in a male patient. A 68-year-old man presented with a 2.5-cm breast mass. Microscopic examination of the needle core biopsy revealed a diffuse (lobular type) infiltration of tumor cells as angulated clusters, linear arrangements, small nests, and individual cells; there was no duct formation. The nuclei were round-oval and hyperchromatic with inconspicuous nucleoli and finely dispersed chromatin. The cytoplasm was abundant, was amphophilic, and ranged from granular to vacuolated. A subset of tumor cells contained periodic acid Schiff–positive cytoplasmic material, which was largely but incompletely removed by diastase treatment. There was minimal nuclear pleomorphism, and mitotic figures were inconspicuous. The intervening stroma was densely fibrotic, and the tumor infiltrated among tightly packed collagen bundles. Immunohistochemistry was positive for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, androgen receptor, vimentin, epithelial membrane antigen, and pan-cytokeratin. The tumor was negative for CK7, CAM5.2, 34BE12, AE1/AE3, GCDFP-15 (BRST-2), E-cadherin, and CD68. The mastectomy resection demonstrated similar histologic findings. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was negative. The morphology of this tumor is similar to that described for histiocytoid carcinoma of the female breast, a rare entity. Such tumors are felt to be variants of lobular carcinomas, which is supported by diffuse infiltrative growth, loss of E-cadherin expression, and strong ER positivity. We believe our case to be the first reported example of histiocytoid carcinoma in a male breast.

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Original ArticlesE-cadherin immunohistochemical analysis of histiocytoid carcinoma of the breast

Abstract

Original Articles
E-cadherin immunohistochemical analysis of histiocytoid carcinoma of the breast