Case Report: A case in which tubular carcinoma and columnar cell hyperplasia were associated with a histologically unusual form of signet ring lobular carcinoma in situ is presented. Signet ring non-invasive lobular carcinoma is classified as high-grade lobular carcinoma in situ, but herein is associated with changes that belong to the molecular pathway of low-grade mammary neoplasia.
Conclusion: We reported the case of lobular carcinoma in situ associated with columnar cell hyperplasia and tubular carcinoma, in which the lobular carcinoma in situ was presented in a histologically unexpected form comprised predominantly of signet ring cells.
Rosen first observed frequent histological coexistence of tubular carcinoma (TC) and CCH, with occasional association of lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)[4]. The histological triad of TC, columnar cell lesions and LCIS is also known as the “Rosen Triad”. Here we portray a case of “Rosen Triad” in which TC is associated with CCH and signet ring LCIS.
Surgical intraoperative biopsy of the detected abnormality was performed. On gross examination the tumor was an illdefi ned, grey-white mass measuring 1 x 0.6 cm, with firm consistency. Frozen section analysis rendered a diagnosis of invasive TC. Modified radical mastectomy with an axillary lymph node dissection followed.
Tissue was fixed in neutral buffered formalin and embedded in paraffin for routine histological examination. Slides were stained with hematoxylin and eosin with additional ER, PgR, CD10, p63, E-cadherin, and HER2/neu immunohistochemical analysis.
On histological examination, the tumor was composed of oval, focally angulated glands and few cords haphazardly distributed in fibrous stroma with an occasional microcalcification (Figure 1, 2). A single layer of epithelial cells, with grade 1 nuclei and no mitoses, lined the tumor glands without visible myoepithelial layer on CD10 and p63 immunostains. This description was consistent with diagnosis of TC. In the carcinomatous tissue several dilated acini, lined with two to three layers of columnar cells without atypia, oriented perpendicularly to the basement membrane were seen, representing CCH (Figure 1, 2). Adjacent to TC and foci of CCH a few dilated acini, colonized by small discohesive cells whose cytoplasms were eosinophilic or vacuolated, many with peripherally displaced nuclei, were seen (Figure 1, 3). Cells were immunohistochemically E-cadherin negative, which is consistent with the diagnosis of signet ring type LCIS.
Figure 3: The lobular carcinoma in situ predominantly composed of signet ring cells (H&E, x400).
Tubular carcinoma, CCH and LCIS cells were ER and PgR positive and HER2/neu negative. Neither residual breast tissue nor dissected axillary lymph nodes showed additional histological abnormalities.
Columnar cell lesions are currently divided into three histologically well-defined categories: CCC, CCH, and FEA. Columnar cell change is histologically characterized by dilated acini lined by one or two layers of columnar epithelial cells oriented perpendicularly to the basement membrane, with apical snouts present along the luminal surface of the cells. Cells are regular in size and shape, and have uniform nuclei with inconspicuous nucleoli. Luminal secretion, with or without calcification, is usually present. In CCH, more than two cell layers of columnar epithelial cells line the dilated acini, and cells have the same cytological features as those described in CCC. The proliferating cells may form small tuft s or short micropapillae, and luminal secretion with calcification is common in CCH. In FEA, the columnar cells exhibit mild cytological atypia with round nuclei, visible nucleoli, and occasional mitotic figures, with loss of perpendicular orientation of the cells to the basement membrane[1-3].
Columnar cell lesions may be associated with a variety of other breast proliferative lesions[5]. Rosen observed that patients with tubular carcinoma (TC) often had foci of CCH, distributed in surrounding areas or even in the carcinomatous tissue, with occasional presentation of LCIS[4].
The frequency of associated changes is variable in the “Rosen Triad”. In the series of 56 pure TCs, Abdel-Fatah et al. found a high prevalence of columnar cell lesions (95%), and low prevalence of lobular neoplasia (LN) (16%)[5]. In a series of 86 TCs, reported by Brandt et al., some degree of columnar cell lesions was found in all cases, while LCIS was found in 53% of the cases[6]. Fernández-Aguilar and coworkers found associated FEA in 47.8%, and lobular intraepithelial neoplasia (LIN) in 17.4% of the 23 pure TC cases[7]. Sahoo and Recant reported an additional case of TC associated with CCH and LCIS[8].
The identical chromosomal alterations frequently found in TC, CCC, and LCIS and in particular the complete or partial loss of 16q provide an additional link between these entities, which together with low-grade ductal carcinoma in situ belong to the molecular pathway of low-grade mammary neoplasia[1,9].
At first glance our signet ring LCIS finding associated with premalignant and low grade malignant changes may look controversial. Lobular carcinoma in situ, composed predominantly of signet ring cells, is classified as high-grade LCIS (LIN 3) because of its higher frequency of associated invasive carcinoma at presentation, particularly lobular invasive carcinoma[10]. However, we feel that designation of high-grade LCIS (LIN 3) in aforementioned context is predominantly based on the frequent association with invasive breast carcinoma, and not on the cell morphology itself. Tumor cells in presented case of LCIS resemble classic LCIS cells, but with prominent intracytoplasmic vacuoles and consecutive signet ring appearance. Pleomorphic LCIS (high grade LCIS, LIN 3), which may also be composed of signet ring cells, diff ers from classic LCIS. Pleomorphic LCIS shows significant nuclear atypia, cellular pleomorphism, presence of macro nucleoli, and occasional central necrosis[11,12]. None of these features were presented in our case of signet ring LCIS.
In conclusion, we reported the case of TC associated with CCH and LCIS, in which the later presented in a histologically unexpected form comprised predominantly of signet ring cells.
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