Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast with late recurrence and high-grade transformation

• Published in: BMJ case reports Vol. 16; no. 2; p. e252336
• Main Authors: Vasudevan, Gowtham, John, Ann Mary, D K, Vijaykumar, Vallonthaiel, Archana George
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 09.02.2023
• Subjects: Biopsy; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Breast Neoplasms - surgery; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic - diagnostic imaging; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic - surgery; Case reports; Chemotherapy; Cytokeratin; Cytoplasm; Exocrine glands; Female; Histology; Humans; Lumpectomy; Mastectomy; Mastectomy, Segmental; Metastasis; Morphology; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - surgery; Pathology; Radiation therapy; Salivary Gland Neoplasms - pathology; Tomography; Tumors; Pathology; Chemotherapy; Breast cancer; Radiotherapy; Breast surgery
• ISSN: 1757-790X; 1757-790X
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2022-252336

Breast cancers have broad histological subtypes with varied molecular expression, which determines the management. Although ductal and lobular breast carcinomas constitute the significant 90% of these tumours, other subtypes constitute about 10% of breast cancers. Adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) is a salivary gland-type tumour described in breast, constituting less than 1% of all breast carcinomas. These tumours have a favourable prognosis and are surgically managed by either lumpectomy or mastectomy. Solid-basaloid and AdCC with high-grade transformation are the sporadic subtypes of AdCC, in addition to the classic type. We report a case of recurrent AdCC which was surgically managed by modified radical mastectomy initially and presented with recurrence and high-grade transformation 11 years later.