Cystic encapsulated papillary carcinoma with ductal carcinoma in situ in the male breast: a clinicopathologic feature with a diagnostic challenge: A case report and review of literature

RATIONALE

Encapsulated papillary carcinoma (EPC) is a rare subset of breast carcinoma accounting for 0.5% to 2.0% of all patients with breast cancer and occuring mostly in postmenopausal women. It is even rarer in male breast cancer, and male EPC has only been reported in few cases. EPC has a distinctive histological pattern and a better prognosis compared with other types of breast carcinoma. Compared to the previously reported EPC cases, the lesion was unusually cystic made the diagnosis challenging. Accordingly, herein, we describe a rare case of EPC was unusually cystic in an elder male breast, associated with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), along with an indepth literature discussion, and then to improve our understanding more about this uncommon tumor and further to provide more experience to treat this disease.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 73-year-old man noticed a slowly enlarging mass in the right breast 1 year ago and sought medical attention. The patient presented with a right breast mass of 1-year duration and bloody nipple discharge in the first couple of days. The medical history was unremarkable.

DIAGNOSES

Physical examination, an elastic hard, smooth and movable 4-cm lesion was palpated below the right papilla. On the sonography, a well-defined predominantly cystic-solid tumor of 3.6 × 2.3 cm was confirmed. Postoperative pathological and immunohistochemical examinations of the surgical specimens revealed a final diagnosis of breast EPC with DCIS.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient underwent surgery. A diagnosis of "a little papillary neoplasm of the breast with epithelial atypia and hypertrophy in the fibrous cystic wall" was made by the frozen section. Further, total mastectomy was performed.

OUTCOMES

The operation was successful. Then the male patient recovered completely, did not require any additional treatment and continued to do well on postsurgical mammary surgical clinic visits. The patient had been followed-up regularly for 2 years after surgery; he did not experience any complications and remained disease-free.

Oncological outcomes for encapsulated papillary carcinoma of the breast: Multicentric study of Turkish Society for Radiation Oncology breast cancer study group (TROD 06-014 study)

BACKGROUND

Encapsulated papillary carcinoma (EPC) is a rare malignant papillary breast cancer accounting for approximately .5%-2% of all breast tumors. The aim of this multicenter study was to evaluate clinicopathologic features of EPC in addition to oncological outcomes and radiotherapy (RT) details.

METHODS

From 10 different academic hospitals in Turkey, we obtained pathology reports of 80 patients with histologically confirmed EPC between 2005 and 2022. Demographic, diagnostic, and treatment data were collected from medical records, retrospectively. Local failure, distant progression, toxicity-adverse effects, overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival were evaluated, and survival analyzes were performed using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

Eighty patients with the diagnosis of misspelled sorry (ECP) were retrospectively evaluated. The median age of the patients was 63 (range, 35-85). After a median follow-up of 48 (range; 6-206) months, local recurrence was observed in three patients (4%). Local recurrence was less common in the patients who received whole breast RT with a tumour bed boost (p = .025). There were not any distant metastasis or disease-related death. RT was applied to 61% of the cases, and no treatment-related grade 3 or higher toxicity was reported in any of the patients. Five year OS, cancer-specific survival (CSS), and  were observed as 85%, 100%, and 96%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

ECP is a rare, slow-progressing breast carcinoma associated with good prognosis, it is a disease of elderly patient, and usually occurs in postmenopausal women. It responds extremely well to optimal local treatments and appropriate adjuvant treatments on a patient basis, and has excellent OS and CSS ratios.

Encapsulated papillary carcinoma of the breast: A single institution experience

Encapsulated papillary carcinoma (EPC) is a relatively rare form of breast cancer. To date, no evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of EPC have been established. Between January 2015 and December 2021, patients with histologically confirmed EPC of the breast were recorded in a database by The Third Hospital of Nanchang City (Nanchang, China). A total of 46 patients with EPC were retrieved from the database. Age at diagnosis ranged from 41-88 years (median age, 62 years). A total of 21 of these patients had pure EPC, 6 patients had EPC associated with ductal carcinoma in situ and 19 patients had EPC associated with invasive carcinoma. The majority of EPC cases were low nuclear grade, hormone receptor-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2-negative. Additionally, myoepithelial cells were always absent in the papillae of the EPC. All patients underwent lumpectomy or mastectomy with sentinel lymph node biopsy, and almost all of the patients received adjuvant hormonal therapy. Adjuvant chemotherapy was only suggested to 4 patients who were diagnosed with axillary lymph node involvement. Subsequently, the clinicopathological features of non-invasive EPC were compared with invasive EPC. The results indicated that larger tumor sizes and axillary lymph node metastases were more common in invasive tumors. During the follow-up, only 2 patients with invasive EPC experienced recurrence or metastasis. In conclusion, a substantial proportion of invasive EPC cases display aggressive characteristics and metastatic potential, despite it being considered a subtype of carcinoma in situ with excellent prognosis, and local surgical resection is the initial method of treatment. Therefore, adjuvant endocrine therapy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy should be considered in select patients, especially in those diagnosed with invasive EPC tumors.

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma Mimicking Encapsulated Papillary Carcinoma with a Literature Review: A Rare Variant Detected Serendipitously

Invasive lobular carcinoma with papillary features is a newly proposed variant which presents as a relatively well-circumscribed mass lesion with at least partial peripheral thickened fibrous capsule and central delicate fibrovascular cores, morphologically mimicking encapsulated papillary carcinoma or solid papillary carcinoma. There are only 5 cases described in literature. We here report an interesting example of invasive lobular carcinoma with papillary growth pattern surrounded by a thick fibrous capsule, mimicking encapsulated papillary carcinoma (EPC). The lobular nature of the tumor was confirmed by the absence of membranous expression of E-cadherin and p120 catenin. The lobular cytological features are subtle in this variant and may be overlooked. Differentiation of this variant from papillary carcinomas is crucial for correct tumor categorization, staging and most importantly, proper treatment.

Rare Papillary Breast Carcinoma Incidentally Discovered After Trauma-Induced Hematoma

Papillary carcinoma of the breast is rare, comprising only 0.5% incidence of all breast cancers. Clinically the disease presents in postmenopausal women as a painless breast lump with possible bloody nipple discharge. Prognosis is favorable due to its slow growth. We present a 61-year-old woman incidentally diagnosed with papillary breast carcinoma after presenting with a trauma-induced hematoma of the right breast. The patient presented to our surgery oncology clinic for persistent right breast swelling secondary to a fall, despite initial incision and drainage (I&D) six weeks prior. She had no history of breast cancer. On presentation, her right breast was distended demonstrating an approximately 20cm ill-defined solid mass with skin changes consistent with a tense hematoma. CT scan demonstrated a large complex cystic and solid breast mass measuring 15.2cmx11.8cmx15.2cm with irregular peripheral solid hyperdense polypoid components. She then underwent a right breast incisional biopsy and hematoma evacuation. Frozen sections of the mass outer cavity wall and papillary projections were consistent with encapsulated papillary carcinoma (EPC). The patient was lost to follow-up and did not obtain definitive treatment. Breast cancer rarely presents as a breast hematoma. However, as in this case, if the hematoma fails to resolve, further investigation is warranted. The prognosis of EPC is excellent when identified and treated appropriately.

Cystic Encapsulated Papillary Carcinoma in the Male Breast: An Unusual Feature With a Diagnostic Challenge

Papillary carcinoma in the male breast is uncommon. Here, we report a case of a large encapsulated papillary carcinoma (EPC) in a 62-year-old male. The patient presented with a left breast mass of 1-year duration and bloody nipple discharge for several days. Mammography and breast ultrasonography showed a large left breast mass. The initial biopsy demonstrated fat necrosis with acute and chronic inflammation only. Due to clinical suspicion, a repeat biopsy was performed and revealed scant fragments of papillary carcinoma in a background of inflammation. The patient underwent left total mastectomy. Grossly, the breast contained a 9.0 cm entirely cystic lesion lined by a hemorrhagic thick fibrotic wall. No solid area was identified in the cyst. The entire cyst wall was examined under microscopy; only a few sections with papillary carcinoma were identified. The lesion was confined to the cyst wall; so, a diagnosis of EPC was made. Compared to the previously reported EPC cases of male breast, the lesion of this case was unusually cystic, which making the diagnosis challenging. Therefore, awareness of this unusual feature, repeat biopsy when the pathology result is discordant, and extensive sampling of the lesion are essential for making the correct diagnosis and guiding patient management.

Literature review and case report of bilateral intracystic papillary carcinoma associated with an invasive ductal carcinoma in a male breast

Intracystic papillary carcinoma (IPC) is a rare tumor with good prognosis that occurs in only 5% to 7.5% of male breast cancer. We report a case of a 46-year-old man who presented a brown nipple discharge a few months ago. He had a bilateral IPC and an invasive ductal carcinoma on the right breast. A double mastectomy was then performed with a bilateral sentinel lymph node biopsy, and he received chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hormonotherapy. Two years after the diagnosis, the patient recovered and was free of recurrence. Considering the scarcity of this tumor type, we conducted a systematic literature review on the PubMed of all the cases of IPC in men. The clinical presentation, imaging, and treatment of the 43 case reports from the 41 articles selected were described. Furthermore, no clear guidelines for IPC management are available. Conservative surgery should also be preferred, and a sentinel lymph node biopsy should be performed systematically. Moreover, radiotherapy should be proposed in the case of conservative surgery, and hormone therapy could be proposed in the case of invasive IPC or IPC associated with a ductal carcinoma in situ.

Encapsulated papillary carcinoma with and without frank invasion: Comparison of clinicopathologic features and role of axillary staging

To investigate clinical and pathologic features of encapsulated papillary carcinomas (EPCs) that may be associated with invasive disease and characterize the axillary staging practices for EPCs at our institution. A pathology database search for cases containing "papillary carcinoma" was performed. Slides were reviewed by two pathologists. Clinicopathological features and axillary staging practices of EPCs with and without invasion were compared. Twenty-five cases of EPCs were identified. Fifteen cases contained a frank invasive tumor (60%), which were all pT1 (0.7 ± 0.56 cm), and the majority were ER-positive, HER2-negative, low-grade IDC-NST. Seventeen patients underwent sentinel lymph node biopsies (SLNB). No nodal metastases were identified. Follow-up was available for 24 patients (mean = 39 ± 29 months); 23 had no NED. Patients that presented with a self-palpated mass (versus screening) were more likely to have an invasive component; however, no pathologic or radiologic features differentiated EPCs with and without frank invasion. Pathologic and radiologic characteristics did not differentiate EPCs with and without frank invasion. EPCs have an excellent prognosis supported by the notable disease-free survival and negative nodal status in our cohort, which supports the notion that patients with EPCs may forgo axillary staging.

Encapsulated Papillary Carcinoma of the Breast: Imaging Features with Histopathologic Correlation

Encapsulated papillary carcinoma (EPC) is a rare, clinically indolent breast malignancy most common in postmenopausal women. Absence of myoepithelial cells at the periphery is a characteristic feature. Mammographically, EPC typically presents as a mostly circumscribed, noncalcified, dense mass that can have focally indistinct margins when there is associated frank invasive carcinoma. Ultrasound shows a circumscribed solid or complex cystic and solid mass, and occasional hemorrhage in the cystic component may produce a fluid-debris level; the solid components typically show intense washout enhancement on MRI. Color Doppler may demonstrate a prominent vascular pedicle and blood flow within solid papillary fronds. Encapsulated papillary carcinoma can exist in pure form; however, EPC is often associated with conventional ductal carcinoma in-situ and/or invasive ductal carcinoma, no special type. Adjacent in-situ and invasive disease may be only focally present at the periphery of EPC and potentially unsampled at core-needle biopsy. In order to facilitate diagnosis, the mass wall should be included on core-needle biopsy, which will show absence of myoepithelial markers. Staging and prognosis are determined by any associated frankly invasive component, with usually excellent long-term survival and rare distant metastases.

Encapsulated Papillary Carcinoma of Breast: Clinicopathological Features and Prognostic Parameters

Introduction Encapsulated papillary carcinoma (EPC) is a rare malignant papillary breast tumor that, despite a lack of distinct myoepithelial layer, is considered an in situ carcinoma unless associated with a frank invasive component. Data regarding clinicopathologic features of rare breast tumors like EPC are especially scarce. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the clinicopathologic features of EPC and performed a clinicopathological comparison with conventional invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Methods It was a retrospective study conducted in the Department of Pathology, Liaquat National Hospital and Medical College, from January 2013 to December 2019 over a period of seven years. During this period, 16 cases were diagnosed as EPC, and 634 cases were labeled as IDC. Estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2/neu) immunohistochemical (IHC) stains were performed on both EPC and IDC cases. Moreover, myoepithelial IHC stains were performed on all cases of EPC. Clinicopathologic features of EPC were compared with IDC. Results The mean age of the EPC patients was 51.81±13.94 years, with a mean tumor size of 2.97±2.46 cm. The majority of cases were grade II, and axillary metastasis was present in 18.8% of cases. About 56.3% of cases were in situ, and 43.8% showed foci of invasion in the form of IDC. Recurrence was noted in 12.5% of cases with a survival rate of 93.8%. ER, PR, and HER2/neu positivity was noted in 81.3%, 75%, and 12.5% cases, respectively. EPC was significantly noted to have lower tumor grade and pathological T-stage than IDC. Similarly, a lower frequency of axillary metastasis was noted in EPC than IDC.  Conclusion EPC is a rare distinct subtype of papillary breast tumors with overall good survival and low recurrence rate. Compared to IDC, we found EPC to be associated with better prognostic parameters such as lower tumor grade and T-stage and lower frequency of axillary metastasis.

Spectrum of Papillary Breast Lesions According to World Health Organization Classification of Papillary Neoplasms of Breast

Introduction Papillary breast lesions are segregated into benign and malignant based on the presence or absence of myoepithelial cells in the papillary cores. Papillary breast lesions are further classified into: intraductal papilloma, papilloma with atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH)/ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), papillary DCIS, solid papillary carcinoma in situ, solid papillary carcinoma with invasion, invasive solid papillary carcinoma, encapsulated papillary carcinoma and encapsulated papillary carcinoma with invasion. In this study, we evaluated the spectrum of papillary breast lesions in resection specimens of the breast according to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) classification of breast tumors. Methods This was a retrospective cross-sectional study, and was conducted at Liaquat National Hospital for a period of six years, from January 2012 till December 2017. Data of patients that underwent surgeries for breast tumors were included in the study. All specimens were grossed, according to defined protocols, and representative sections were taken after inking resection margins. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections were examined by experienced histopathologists, and myoepithelial stains (p63 and myosin) were done in selected sections of all tumors. Histopathological classification of papillary tumors was performed according to WHO classification of breast tumors. Results The study involved 190 excision specimens of papillary breast lesions. Mean age of the patients was 45.6±17.1 years. Most of the lesions were between two and five centimetres (69.1%). For invasive carcinomas (n = 76), the most frequent grade was II (52.6%). For in situ and invasive carcinomas (n = 129), lymphovascular invasion and axillary metastasis were noted in 5.4% and 9.3% cases, respectively. Among papillary breast lesions, 36.8% were benign (intraductal papilloma, solitary or multiple) while 63.2% harbored ADH, DCIS, or invasive carcinoma. Invasive papillary carcinoma was the most frequent malignant papillary lesion (20%), followed by solid papillary carcinoma with invasion (12.6%). We found significant associations between patient's age and tumor size with histological type of papillary lesion as benign papillary lesions had smaller size and younger age compared to malignant papillary lesions. Conclusion We noted a high frequency of malignancy in papillary breast lesions. Moreover, malignant papillary lesions were significantly associated with higher age and larger tumor size.

The standard form of CD44 as a marker for invasion of encapsulated papillary carcinoma of the breast

Encapsulated papillary carcinoma (EPC), a rare variant of papillary carcinoma of the breast, is regarded as a transition form between carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma. Here, we tried to identify differences in immunohistochemical phenotype between 10 EPCs with invasive properties (EPC with invasion) and 17 non-invasive EPCs (EPC). We immunohistochemically assessed the expression of hormone receptors, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 and MMP9, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), CD31, and D2-40, markers of tumor-associated macrophages (CD163, CD206), Ki-67 and stem cell markers (CD44 and CD24). The frequency of MMP9-positive cases and the number of tumor-associated macrophages infiltrating into the fibrous capsule were significantly higher in EPC with invasion than in EPC. The expression of the standard form of CD44 (CD44s) was significantly stronger in EPC with invasion than in EPC (P = 0.0036) and was correlated with MMP2 expression and M2-like macrophage infiltration. A multivariate logistic model analysis showed that CD44s expression in tumor cell and infiltration of CD163 positive macrophage in EPC capsule showed an independent odds ratio for invasion of EPC. Thus, CD44s may be a potential marker predicting invasive potential of EPC and could play an important role in progression to the invasive phase of EPC.

Invasive lobular carcinoma with papillary features: A newly described variant that poses a difficult histologic differential diagnosis

Recently, a new variant of ILC with papillary architecture has been described, which may mimic solid and encapsulated papillary carcinomas of the breast. We report the fifth case of ILC with a solid papillary-like growth pattern, which was initially misdiagnosed as an encapsulated papillary carcinoma. Subtle discohesion in the tumor cells, coupled with the presence of classic invasive lobular carcinoma infiltrating beyond the capsule of the papillary tumor, prompted evaluation with E-cadherin, confirming the diagnosis. We review the histologic differential diagnosis and stress the importance of correct classification to ensure appropriate management for patients.

Diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of encapsulated papillary carcinoma: a single institution experience

Background.

Encapsulated papillary carcinoma (EPC) is a rare entity of breast cancer accounting for approximately 1–2% of all breast tumours. There are no evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of EPC.

Materials and methods.

From the database of the National Centre of Pathology (NCP), we obtained pathology reports of 19 patients with histologically confirmed EPC, who were treated at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Vilnius, Lithuania, between July 2009 and July 2015. Demographic, diagnostic and treatment data were collected from medical records retrospectively.

Results.

During the indicated period, 19 patients with EPC were treated at the NCI. Three of them had pure EPC, they were 74 to 81 years of age at the time of diagnosis (mean 76.7 years, median 75 years); all of them are still alive and no disease progression has been observed. Seven patients had EPC associated with carcinoma in situ. Nine patients had EPC associated with invasive breast ductal carcinoma. All patients underwent surgery, in most cases – wide local excision. Only one patient died.

Conclusions.

EPC is a rare form of breast cancer and usually presents with an invasive breast carcinoma or carcinoma in situ in postmenopausal women. Tumours have an excellent prognosis in the cases of pure EPC and in both EPC associated with carcinoma in situ (CIS) and invasive carcinoma.