[The so-called sweat-gland carcinoma of the human breast. A review (author's transl)]

Abstract

The term sweat-gland carcinoma of the breast is used in widely different meanings. Nonetheless, two histologically well-characterized types may be recognized: 1. The apocrine (oncocytic) carcinoma is composed of large well-delimited cells with finely granular, oxyphilic cytoplasm similar to that of oncocytes of other organs. They resemble the "pale" oxyphilic cells of the aging normal breast whose cytoplasm in part show the same quality. These carcinoma cells are regarded as mammary cells in a state of transition into oncocytes. Any similarity they have to cells of the apocrine axillary sweat-gland is purely superficial and in no way influences the interpretation of apocrine carcinomas. 2. The secreting carcinoma histologically is reminiscent of the functioning, hormonally stimulated breast of pregnancy. It reveals apocrine extrusion of nuclei and an accumulation of neutral fat in cytoplasm and duct lumina. A case of secreting carcinoma is described in detail to exemplify the association with exogenous hormonal stimulation. Both types of differentiation of carcinomas may arise together or with other types of mammary carcinomas, and share the clinical prognosis with them. The term sweat-gland carcinoma of the human breast should be abolished since there exists no proof that they really occur.