Lipid-rich carcinoma of the breast: a case report

Acta Chir Belg. 2008 Jan-Feb;108(1):115-8.

Abstract

Lipid-rich carcinoma is a rare variant and accounts for < or = 2% of all breast cancer diagnoses. We report a case occurring in a 53-year-old female. The patient presented with a painless, right breast mass. Clinical examination and mammography suggested malignancy. Subsequent modified radical mastectomy revealed the diagnosis of lipid-rich carcinoma. The morphological features, differential diagnosis and treatment along with a brief review of the literature are discussed in this article. Lipid-rich carcinoma (L-RC) is a very rare variant of breast carcinomas with an aggressive clinical course and poor prognosis. It presents only 1% to 2% of all breast cases. It is classified as a specific variety of mammary carcinoma because the tumour cells possess abundant vacuolated cytoplasm which is strongly positive when stained for neutral fat. Aboumrad first described it in 1963 as lipid-secreting carcinoma. However, Ramos and Taylor renamed it as lipid-rich breast carcinoma. In China, the first case was reported in 1984. Herein, we report a case of lipid-rich carcinoma occurring in a 53-year-old female patient, and the literature is reviewed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Doxorubicin / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Fluorouracil / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lipids / analysis
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Lipids
  • Doxorubicin
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Fluorouracil

Supplementary concepts

  • CAF protocol