J Korean Soc Radiol.  2019 Jul;80(4):798-803. 10.3348/jksr.2019.80.4.798.

Secretory Breast Carcinoma: A Case Report with MRI Findings

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, Korea.
  • 2Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu, Korea. mamrad@knu.ac.kr
  • 3Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu, Korea.
  • 4Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu, Korea.
  • 5Kim Dong Sug Pathology Clinics, Daegu, Korea.

Abstract

Secretory carcinoma of the breast is an extremely rare, clinically and histologically distinct variant of invasive ductal carcinoma, with an indolent growth pattern and a more favorable prognosis than that of typical ductal carcinoma. Few studies have described its imaging features. Herein, we report on a secretory breast carcinoma with findings from various imaging modalities, especially including the MRI findings, which appears a well-defined complex cystic mass. Awareness of its imaging features using various modalities will be helpful for the differential diagnosis.


MeSH Terms

Breast Neoplasms*
Breast*
Carcinoma, Ductal
Diagnosis, Differential
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Mammography
Prognosis
Ultrasonography, Mammary

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Secretary breast carcinoma in an 80-year-old woman. A. A hyperdense circumscribed mass without suspicious microcalcifications is seen in the right breast on the craniocaudal and mediolateral oblique views. B. Ultrasound shows a greater than 5-cm complex cystic mass in the right breast. C. T1WI demonstrates low signal intensity in the central solid portion (arrow); and intermediate and high signal intensities in the cystic portion of the mass, which is probably due to hemorrhage caused by core needle biopsy. T2WI with fat saturation demonstrates low signal intensity in the central solid portion (arrow); and high signal intensity in the cystic portion of the mass. Subtracted gadolinium enhanced T1WI shows a large thin-rim enhancement with an eccentric enhancing solid portion (arrow). D. PET/CT image shows a large complex cystic mass with a hypermetabolic solid portion (maximum standardized uptake value 11.4) (arrow). E. Histologic specimen shows abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and intracellular and extracellular eosinophilic secretory material (hematoxylin and eosin staining, ×200). T1WI = T1-weighted image, T2WI = T2-weighted image


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