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A case of ectopic breast carcinoma of the right axilla treated with neoadjuvant endocrine therapy

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Abstract

We herein report a case of an ectopic breast carcinoma of the right axilla treated with preoperative endocrine therapy. A 65-year-old female presented with an ulcerated mass in the right axilla. The tumor was 1.7 cm in diameter. The clinical and pathological diagnosis based on the findings of a core needle biopsy (ER-positive and PR-positive) was ectopic breast carcinoma of the axilla. The tumor was widely spread in the right axilla. We were concerned that an extensive scar that would result from surgery would restrict the range of motion of the right upper extremity. The estrogen receptor was highly expressed in the tumor, therefore, neoadjuvant endocrine therapy was started. Letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor, was administrated for 6 months before surgery, and the tumor was reduced in size and became easily resectable. The clinicopathological effect was a partial response. The resection of the right axilla and axillary lymph node dissection were performed. The defect of the right axilla was small, and no contracture occurred. Adjuvant endocrine therapy was continued after surgery. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a case of ectopic breast carcinoma of the axilla successfully treated with neoadjuvant endocrine therapy. This case is considered to be a valuable case, and we have added some bibliographic considerations to further increase the value of this report.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Correspondence to Kenji Taketani.

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Taketani, K., Tokunaga, E., Yamashita, N. et al. A case of ectopic breast carcinoma of the right axilla treated with neoadjuvant endocrine therapy. Int Canc Conf J 4, 29–34 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13691-014-0164-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13691-014-0164-8

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