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Review
. 2011 Aug;6(4):293-7.
doi: 10.1159/000331316.

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma in a breast affected by burn scars: comprehensive literature review and case report

Murat Basbug  1 , Sami Akbulut, Zulfu Arikanoglu, Nilgun Sogutcu, Ugur Firat, Mehmet Kucukoner
Affiliations
Review

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma in a breast affected by burn scars: comprehensive literature review and case report

Murat Basbug et al. Breast Care (Basel). 2011 Aug.

Abstract
in English, German

Background: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC), which is primarily found in the salivary glands, is rarely seen in the breast. These tumors usually develop from squamous and mucus-secreting cells. Histological grading is an important prognostic factor.

Case report: We present herein a case of a 69-year-old female patient with a painful mass in the left breast. Of importance is that, in addition to MEC, the patient had a wide area of scar tissue secondary to a burn that completely occupied the left bottom quadrant of the abdomen and retracted the left nipple up to the left upper quadrant. Fine needle aspiration biopsy was negative, and a lumpectomy was performed. Because the pathology results were consistent with MEC, modified radical mastectomy with subsequent adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy was performed. The patient remained disease-free for 12 months after the treatment. In addition to a discussion of this case, we performed a review of the clinicopathological characteristics of 30 cases with breast MEC reported in the English language literature between 1979 and 2010.

Conclusions: MEC of the breast is a rarely seen tumor, and this is the first report of MEC in a breast affected by burn scars.

Hintergrund: Mukoepidermoide Karzinome (MEC) treten primär in den Speicheldrüsen auf und betreffen nur selten die Brust. MEC entstehen gewöhnlich aus dem Plattenepithel und mukusproduzierenden Zellen. Das histologische Stadium ist ein wichtiger Prognosefaktor.

Fallbericht: Wir berichten von einer 69-jährigen Patientin, die mit einer schmerzhaften Umfangsvermehrung in der linken Brust vorstellig wurde. Von Bedeutung ist, dass die Patientin neben einem MEC auch groβflächiges Narbengewebe infolge einer Verbrennung aufwies, welches den linken unteren Quadranten des Abdomens komplett bedeckte und eine Retraktion der linken Brustwarze in den linken oberen Quadranten bewirkte. Nachdem die Feinnadelaspirationsbiopsie ein negatives Ergebnis zeigte, wurde eine Lumpektomie durchgeführt. Da das Ergebnis der pathologischen Untersuchung auf ein MEC hindeutete, wurde eine modifizierte radikale Mastektomie mit anschlieβender adjuvanter Chemotherapie und Radiotherapie durchgeführt. Die Patientin blieb nach der Behandlung 12 Monate lang krankheitsfrei. Neben der Diskussion des vorliegenden Falles wird eine Übersicht über die klinikopathologischen Charakte-ristika von 30 Fällen von MEC der Brust in der englischsprachigen Literatur (1979-2010) gegeben.

Schlussfolgerungen: MEC der Brust ist eine seltene Tumorform, und dies ist der erste Bericht von einem MEC in einer von Brandnarben betroffenen Brust.

Keywords: Breast; Burn; Mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Postoperative view of the anterior aspect of the left anterior abdominal wall and mass located in the left breast tissue affected by the previous burn.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Infiltrative solid tumor containing cystic spaces filled with mucus, necrosis, and squamous cells with individual cell keratinization (H and E stain, × 100).
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Tumor cells with individual cell keratinization can be seen (H and E stain, × 200).
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
MUC-1 positivity in the mucinous tumoral areas (immunoperoxidase, × 200).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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