Histological Analysis of Benign Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System Categories 4c and 5 Breast Lesions in Imaging Study

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to analyze the histology of breast lesions categorized as Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) 4c or 5 breast lesions during the imaging evaluation, but diagnosed as benign during the histological evaluation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 71 breast lesions categorized as BI-RADS 4c or 5 during imaging study, but diagnosed as benign upon histological evaluation. RESULTS: Breast lesions were classified into six groups upon histological analysis: intraductal papilloma (18 cases), inflammatory group (15 cases), fibroepithelial tumor (14 cases), clustered microcalcification (10 cases), minimal histological alteration (10 cases), and adenosis (4 cases). Sclerosis and architectural complexity were associated with most of the biopsies that were morphologically similar to malignancy. CONCLUSION: Among 71 cases categorized as 4c or 5 during the imaging study, but diagnosed as benign upon histological examination, intraductal papilloma was the most frequently identified histological lesion. These 71 cases exhibited histological characteristics of sclerosis and/or complex/complicated features that should be histologically differentiated from malignancy during evaluation.

Evaluation of Intratumoral HER-2 Heterogeneity by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization in Invasive Breast Cancer: A Single Institution Study

This study aimed to determine the incidence and characteristics of HER-2 gene heterogeneity in invasive breast cancer in a single institution. Included were 971 cases of primary invasive breast cancer diagnosed between 2008 and 2010. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) image files were retrospectively reviewed and HER-2 gene heterogeneity was defined as more than 5% but less than 50% of analyzed invasive tumor cells with a HER-2/Chr17 ratio higher than 2.2, according to the College of American Pathologists guidelines. HER-2 gene heterogeneity was identified in 24 (2.5%) cases. The mean proportion of invasive tumor cells with a HER-2/chromosome 17 ratio higher than 2.2 was 11.6% (range: 5%-25%). Of 24 cases, HER-2 gene status was not amplified in 8, showed borderline amplification in 2, and amplification in 14. All HER-2 amplification cases were low-grade. In conclusion, HER-2 gene heterogeneity of invasive breast cancer is identified in routine FISH examination. This may affect the results of HER-2 gene amplification status in FISH studies.

Clinicopathlogic and Immunohistochemical Characteristics of Triple Negative Invasive Lobular Carcinoma

PURPOSE: Our study is performed to find out clinicopathlogic and immunohistochemical (IHC) characteristics of triple negative invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), as has been demonstrated in their invasive ductal counterparts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of variable clinicopathlogic parameters and IHC stains for androgen receptor, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, p53, c-kit, galectin-3, cytokeratin 5 (CK5), CK5/6, vimentin, E-cadherin, epidermal growth factor receptor, and HER2 were performed in 117 cases of ILC. RESULTS: Eight cases (6.8%) were triple negative carcinoma (TNC), which showed higher incidence of high histologic grade than non-TNC (p = 0.019). Galectin-3 was expressed with higher incidence in tumor cells of TNC (62.5%) than those of non-TNC (7.3%) (p = 0.000). In contrast, galectin-3 was expressed with higher incidence in stromal cells of non-TNC (53.2%) than those of TNC (12.5%) (p = 0.029). CK5 and CK5/6 were not expressed in all ILCs. CONCLUSION: TNC in ILC showed distinct clinicopathologic and IHC characteristics such as higher histologic grade and increased expression of galectin-3, compared to non-TNC in ILC. TNC in ILC was less frequent and did not show CK5 and CK5/6 expression when compared to TNC in invasive ductal carcinoma.

The Expression of ERCC1, RRM1, and BRCA1 in Breast Cancer According to the Immunohistochemical Phenotypes

We studied the expression of BRCA1, ERCC1, and RRM1 which play an important role in DNA repair systems in breast cancer. Immunohistochemical staining for EGFR, BRCA1, ERCC1, and RRM1 were performed by using a tissue microarray made from 230 breast cancer patients. Patients were classified into luminal A, luminal B, HER-2, and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) types according to ER, PR, and HER-2 expression. The expression of ERCC1, RRM1, and BRCA1 were correlated (P < 0.05). The expression level of ERCC1 was the lowest in TNBC type (P = 0.031), ERCC1 negativity was more prominent in TNBC and luminal B groups than luminal A and HER-2 groups (P = 0.013). Cases with EGFR overexpression showed high expression of RRM1 and BRCA1 (P = 0.046, and 0.004, respectively). In conclusion, the expression of ERCC1 is particularly lower in TNBCs than other types of breast cancers.

Factors in the Breast Core Needle Biopsies of Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia that Can Predict Carcinoma in the Subsequent Surgical Excision Specimens / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: Our purpose was to identify the factors in a breast core needle biopsy (CNB) of atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) that are predictive for carcinoma in the subsequent excision specimens. METHODS: We performed a retrospective pathologic review of 50 cases that were diagnosed as ADH via the CNB and that had the corresponding excision specimens. RESULTS: The size of the largest ADH foci in the CNBs was 0.8+/-0.6 mm (mean+/-SD) for benign proliferative disease (BPD, n=12), 1.0+/-0.5 mm (mean+/-SD) for ADH (n=9) and 1.3+/-0.8 mm (mean+/-SD) for malignant lesions (n=29) in excision specimens (p=0.105). Among the 30 cases showing stromal alterations around the ducts with ADH in the CNBs, 9 cases (30.0%) were BPD or ADH and 21 cases (70.0%) were malignant lesions in the excision specimens (p=0.004). CONCLUSION: As the stromal alterations around the ADH were noted in the CNB, there was an increased likelihood that more advanced lesions would be identified in the surgical excision specimens.

Cytologic Features of Diffuse Sclerosing Variant of Papillary Carcinoma: Cytohistopathologic Analysis of 16 Cases

BACKGROUND: The exact preoperative diagnosis of diffuse sclerosing papillary carcinoma (DSPC) is required for aggressive surgical treatment due to its extended involvement with thyroid and neck lymph nodes. The present study investigated the cytomorphologic characteristics of DSPC and identified cytologic features for preoperative diagnosis of DSPC. METHODS: A retrospective review of cytologic and histologic features of 16 patients diagnosed with DSPC after thyroidectomy and underwent preoperative fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was performed. RESULTS: Prominent psammoma bodies were observed in 16 (100%) and 10 (62.5%) cases of histology and FNAC, respectively. Lymphocytes were observed in nine (56.2%) and four (25.0%) cases, and squamous cells were noted in seven cases (43.7%) and one case (6.2%) on histology and FNAC, respectively. Nuclear grooves and inclusions, which are characteristics of papillary carcinoma, were observed in FNAC and histology slides in all 16 cases. CONCLUSIONS: DSPC displays prominent psammoma bodies and characteristic nuclear features of papillary carcinoma such as nuclear groove and inclusion in FNAC. However, the preoperative diagnosis of DSPC using only FNAC could be difficult due to the absence of other characteristic features such as lymphocytes and metaplastic squamous cells.

Impact of Grade, Hormone Receptor, and HER-2 Status in Women with Breast Cancer on Response to Specific Chemotherapeutic Agents by in vitro Adenosine Triphosphate-based Chemotherapy Response Assay

This study was designed to assess whether histological and biological factors of breast cancer can predict chemoresponse to specific agents. Adenosine triphosphate-based chemotherapy response assay (ATP-CRA) was employed to retrieve chemoresponse to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), doxetaxel, doxorubicin, epirubicin, and paclitaxel in 49 patients. Tumors with high histologic and nuclear grade have higher response rate to doxorubicin (P<0.05) and palitaxel (P<0.05). Estrogen receptor (ER)-negative tumors respond well to doxorubicin (P=0.038), and progesterone receptor (PR)-negative tumors to 5-FU (P=0.039), doxetaxel (P=0.038), doxorubicin (P=0.000), epirubicin (P=0.010), and paclitaxel (P=0.003). Among the breast cancer subtypes determined by ER, PR, and HER-2 immunohistochemical stains, the HER-2+/ER- subtype has a higher response rate to doxorubicin (P=0.008). This in vitro result suggests that the combination of histologic and nuclear grade, hormone receptor, and HER-2 status can be a predictive factor of response to specific chemotherapy agents. Further in vivo study should be followed for clinical trials.

Intracranial Dural Metastasis of Ewing's Sarcoma: a Case Report

Although intracranial dural metastasis of Ewing's sarcoma is a very rare finding, its imaging characteristics are similar to those of its primary form in the central nervous system. Thus, this tumor must be considered in the differential diagnosis of extra-axial dural masses.