Papillary intracystic carcinoma of the female breast--role of ultrasonography

Abstract

We report on a 76-year-old patient with papillary intracystic breast carcinoma. Papillary intracystic carcinomas represent a rare entity. Among all malignant breast tumors, this lesion has an incidence of 0.5-2%. Palpation is not sufficient to distinguish benign from malignant findings. The same applies to mammography, unless the tumor infiltrates the cyst wall. The method of pneumocystography has become obsolete. Sonography is the preferred diagnostic modality to distinguish cystic from solid lesions and to differentiate simple cysts from cysts with intracystic growth. In this respect, Doppler and power Doppler sonography can be instrumental. It is feasible to obtain preoperative ultrasound guided FNAC or core biopsies of the cystic and solid components for cytological or histological verification. Complete excision of the cyst which should include the intracystic growth is considered the treatment of choice.