Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast
R. Leeming, M. Jenkins and G. Mendelsohn
Department of Surgery, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio 44106.
Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast is a rare neoplasm, with only 140
cases having been reported to date. Data on 123 of these cases are reviewed
herein and another case is presented in detail. Several features
distinguish this type of breast cancer from more typical histologic types
and suggest that it may have a unique tumor behavior. The prognosis appears
to be favorable and the incidence of axillary lymph node involvement is
lower. Distant metastases are uncommon, but they tend to occur without
prior lymph node involvement. This lack of prognostic significance for
negative axillary lymph nodes underscores the need for other prognostic
markers in this disease and suggests that axillary dissection can be
eliminated in most cases. Similarities to typical breast cancer include the
incidence of local recurrence and the lack of effect of surgical treatment
on distant metastases and overall survival. These data suggest that
breast-conserving treatment may be applicable to adenoid cystic carcinoma.
