Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Mucocele-like tumor associated with ductal carcinoma in situ diagnosed as mucinous carcinoma by fine-needle aspiration cytology: report of a case

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Surgery Today Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Mucocele-like tumors (MLTs) of the breast are rare, with only 11 cases reported from Japan and 35 cases from other countries. MLTs of the breast were first described by Rosen in 1986. They are believed to be related to atypical ductal hyperplasia, ductal carcinoma, or mucinous carcinoma. It is difficult to diagnose this tumor preoperatively, and especially difficult to differentiate between benign and malignant forms. We report a case of MLT associated with ductal carcinoma in situ, which was initially diagnosed as fibroadenoma by mammography and ultrasonography, and as mucinous carcinoma by fine-needle aspiration cytology. We discuss the characteristic findings of imaging and the appropriate clinical treatment of this tumor. The characteristic image first signals the possibility of this tumor, following which the diagnosis can be confirmed by pathological examination of a fully excised tumor specimen. Breast-conserving surgery is recommended because of the low risk of high-grade malignancy, even when malignancy is confirmed, and lymph node dissection may be avoided.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Rosen PP. Mucocele-like tumors of the breast. Am J Surg Pathol. 1986;10:464–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Ro JY, Sneige N, Sahin AA, Silva EG, del Junco GW, Ayala AG. Mucocele-like tumor of the breast associated with atypical ductal hyperplasia or mucinous carcinoma. A clinicopathologic study of seven cases. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1991;115:137–40.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Fisher CJ, Millis RR. A mucocele-like tumor of the breast associated with both atypical ductal hyperplasia and mucoid carcinoma. Histopathology. 1992;21:69–71.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Yeoh GP, Cheung PS, Chan KW. Fine-needle aspiration cytology of mucocele-like tumors of the breast. Am J Surg Pathol. 1999;23:552–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Kulka J, Davies JD. Mucocele-like tumors: more associations and possibly ductal carcinoma in situ? Histopathology. 1993;22:511–2.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hamele-Bena D, Cranor ML, Rosen PP. Mammary mucocele-like lesions. Benign and malignant. Am J Surg Pathol. 1996;20:1081–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Bharagava V, Miller TR, Cohen MB. Mucocele-like tumors of the breast. Cytologic findings in two cases. Am J Clin Pathol. 1991;95:875–7.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Rosen PP. Mucinous carcinoma. In: Rosen’s breast pathology. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2009. p. 515–35.

  9. Tanaka K, Komoike Y, Egawa C, Motomura K, Koyama H, Nagumo S, et al. Indeterminate calcification and clustered cystic lesions of the breast: a report of six cases. Breast Cancer. 2009;16:77–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Farshid G, Pieterse S, King JM, Robinson J. Mucocele-like lesions of the breast: a benign cause for indeterminate or suspicious mammographic microcalcifications. Breast J. 2005;11:15–22.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Glazebrook K, Reynolds C. Mucocele-like tumors of the breast: mammographic and sonographic appearances. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2003;180:949–54.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Kim JY, Han BK, Choe YH, Ko YH. Benign and malignant mucocele-like tumors of the breast: mammographic and sonographic appearances. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2005;185:1310–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Liebman AJ, Staeger CN, Charney DA. Mucocele-like lesions of the breast: mammographic findings with pathologic correlation. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2006;186:1356–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Abe H, Mori T, Umeda T, Tanaka M, Kawai Y, Shimizu T, et al. Indocyanine green fluorescence imaging system for sentinel lymph node biopsies in early breast cancer patients. Surg Today. 2011;41:197–202.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Okugawa H, Yamamoto D, Uemura Y, Sakaida N, Yamada M, Tanaka K, et al. Notice of retraction. Prognostic factors in breast cancer: the value of the Nottingham Prognostic Index for patients treated in a single institution. Surg Today. 2009;39:738.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, JSDF Kumamoto Hospital, 15-1 Higashihonmachi, Kumamoto, 862-0902, Japan

    Shoichi Kikuchi

  2. Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Kumamoto City Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan

    Shoichi Kikuchi, Reiki Nishimura, Tomofumi Osako, Yasuhiro Okumura & Mitsuhiro Hayashi

  3. Department of Clinical Pathology, Kumamoto City Hospital, Kumamoto, Japan

    Yasuo Toyozumi & Nobuyuki Arima

Authors
  1. Shoichi Kikuchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Reiki Nishimura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tomofumi Osako
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yasuhiro Okumura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Mitsuhiro Hayashi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yasuo Toyozumi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Nobuyuki Arima
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shoichi Kikuchi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kikuchi, S., Nishimura, R., Osako, T. et al. Mucocele-like tumor associated with ductal carcinoma in situ diagnosed as mucinous carcinoma by fine-needle aspiration cytology: report of a case. Surg Today 42, 280–284 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-011-0063-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-011-0063-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation