Immunohistologic characterisation of benign lymphoepithelial-like breast lesions

ABSTRACT

Ten cases with benign breast lesion consisting of dense intralobular, perilobular, and perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates associated with lobular atrophy and sclerosis had been studied with 20 cases of breast cancers of similar average size and age group for characterisation of the predominant lymphocytic population using monoclonal antibodies. Documented immunologic disorders were present in 5 out of 10 cases [rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, and thyrotoxicosis], B cell predominance was found in 8 cases while almost equal proportions of both T and B cells was found in 2 cases. Breast carcinoma cases with lymphocytic infiltrate showed predominance of T cell population which was also found around adjacent non neoplastic lobules and ducts. So it is postulated that characterisation of lymphocytic population in such benign lymphoepithelial lesions might be of help in differentiating them from the predominantly T cell infiltrate around benign lobule or duct associated with deeply seated breast malignancy