Treatment and outcome of patients with intracystic papillary carcinoma of the breast.

Background: Intracystic papillary carcinoma (IPC) of the breast is a rare form of noninvasive breast cancer. An appreciation of associated pathology with IPC may be critical in surgical decision-making.

Methods: The medical records of all patients with IPC treated between 1985 and 2001 were retrospectively reviewed. Three patient groups were identified according to the pathologic features of the primary tumor: IPC alone, IPC with associated ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and IPC with associated invasion with or without DCIS. Types of treatment and outcomes were compared between groups.

Results: Forty patients were treated for IPC during the study period. Fourteen had pure IPC, 13 had IPC with DCIS, and 13 had IPC with invasion. The incidence of recurrence and the likelihood of dying of IPC did not differ between the three groups regardless of the type of surgery (mastectomy or segmental mastectomy) performed and whether radiation therapy was administered. The disease-specific survival rate was 100%.

Conclusions: When IPC is identified, it is frequently associated with DCIS and or invasion. Standard therapy should be based on associated pathology. The role of radiation therapy in pure IPC remains to be determined.