Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast represents a rare entity characterized by the simultaneous presence of ductal, squamous, and/or mesenchymal components in several proportions. There are limitations in fine-needle aspiration diagnosis due to its pathological heterogeneity. When it develops under pregnancy and lactation influence, the cytologic evaluation appears to be more difficult and accurate diagnosis often proves challenging. We describe a case of mixed metaplastic carcinoma with dominant areas of squamous metaplasia, sarcomatoid stroma with spindle cells, and a minor component of cartilaginous metaplasia. We notify our experience in diagnostic approach of this entity focusing on differential diagnosis.
Department of Surgery, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, Lansing, MI, USA. Electronic address:
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is partly initiated through the transdifferentiation of acinar cells to metaplasia, which progresses to neoplasia and cancer. Tuft cells (TCs) are chemosensory cells not found in the normal pancreas but arise in cancer precursor lesions and diminish during progression to carcinoma. These metaplastic TCs (mTCs) suppress tumor progression through communication with the tumor microenvironment, but their fate during progression is unknown.
Fibromatosis-like metaplastic carcinoma (FLMC) is a rare subtype of metaplastic carcinoma of the breast. Diagnosing this entity poses significant challenges, particularly in core biopsies due to limited sampling and overlap with benign spindle cell lesions such as nodular fasciitis and fibromatosis. We present an example of FLMC in an asymptomatic middle-aged woman.
A 73-year-old woman experienced bloody discharge and skin thickening in her right breast, prompting concerns for Paget disease.
A skin punch biopsy revealed high-grade infiltrating carcinoma with squamous features, ruling out other types like metaplastic carcinoma due to her medical history.
A lumpectomy confirmed invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the nipple, linked to Bowen disease, emphasizing the need for awareness of rare diagnoses in patients with prior breast cancer.
Secretory carcinoma is a rare breast tumor driven by fusion. It has characteristic morphologic features and identification of these tumors is critical as these patients may benefit from TRK inhibitors. Morphologic shift upon treatment has not been reported in secretory carcinoma or other -driven tumors.
Esophageal cancer, particularly squamous cell carcinoma, poses significant diagnostic challenges due to its aggressive nature and similarity to metaplastic tissue. Accurate diagnosis often requires multiple biopsies and vigilant surveillance, especially in high-risk individuals with conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and a history of smoking. We present a 66-year-old female patient with a history of severe GERD and smoking, who underwent routine endoscopy revealing a gastric cardia nodule.
