Concurrent Invasive Ductal Carcinoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Manifesting as a Collision Tumor in Breast

• Published in: The breast journal Vol. 13; no. 4; pp. 413 - 417
• Main Authors: Cheung, Kevin J., Tam, Wayne, Chuang, Ellen, Osborne, Michael P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.07.2007
• Subjects: breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Breast Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast - metabolism; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast - pathology; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast - radiotherapy; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; chronic lymphocytic leukemia; collision tumor; ductal carcinoma; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell - pathology; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell - radiotherapy; Lymph Nodes - pathology; Lymphatic Metastasis; Lymphoma - pathology; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary - pathology; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
• ISSN: 1075-122X; 1524-4741
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1524-4741.2007.00451.x

:  Collision tumors are rare clinical entities in which two histologically distinct tumor types show involvement in the same site. The occurrence of these tumors in the breast is extremely rare. Here, we present a case of a patient with both invasive ductal carcinoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the breast. Wide excision with sentinel lymph node biopsy revealed palpably abnormal lymph nodes negative for breast carcinoma on frozen section. Histopathological examination of these lymph nodes showed extensive involvement by lymphoma and review of the breast specimen demonstrated the same lymphoma at the periphery of the ductal carcinoma. We review the literature and discuss possible etiologies for the dual presentation of both cancers.