A CASE OF ADENOID CYSTIC CARCINOMA OF THE BREAST

A case of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast is reported. A 70-year-old woman was referred to our clinic with the chief complaint of right breast pain. The impression of the mass was chronic mastopathy, but a possible malignancy was suspected ultrasonographycally. Excisional biopsy and pathological examination revealed an adenoid cystic carcinoma. Patey operation was performed, no metastasis to axillary lymph node being found. Histologically, the tumor was characterized by “cysts” with a cribriform pattern. Histochemically, hyaline material inside “cysts” were alcian blue-positive and PAS-negative or weakly positive, and contents of the duct structures gave a positive reaction with PAS but negative with alcian blue. Immunohistochemically, CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) and secretory component were disclosed in the duct structures, but none in the “cysts”.