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. 2017 Jan 18:10:397-407.
doi: 10.2147/OTT.S113736. eCollection 2017.

Primary neuroendocrine breast carcinomas: a retrospective analysis and review of literature

Xin Yang  1 , Youde Cao  2 , Chen Chen  1 , Lin Liu  1 , Cheng Wang  1 , Shengchun Liu  1
Affiliations

Primary neuroendocrine breast carcinomas: a retrospective analysis and review of literature

Xin Yang et al. Onco Targets Ther. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Background: Primary neuroendocrine breast carcinomas (NEBCs) are a rare type of breast carcinomas that lack comprehensive recognition, including the clinicopathological features, therapeutic strategies, and prognostic significance. The aim of this retrospective analysis is to present and analyze our own data of primary NEBCs.

Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records from 2005 to 2015 in The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China to obtain a cohort of breast carcinoma patients who were confirmed to have primary NEBC by histopathology. The detailed clinical data along with histopathology, treatment, and follow-up aspects were gathered for analysis.

Results: This retrospective analysis included 19 patients with a histopathological diagnosis of primary NEBC from 2005 to 2015. Their mean age was 59.2 years (ranging from 17 to 82 years). The majority of patients (15/19) focused on stages I and II. Of the 15 patients, 14 were positive for estrogen receptor, and 11 were positive for progesterone receptor. For neuroendocrine markers, the expression rates were 8/19, 14/18, 12/14, and 2/6 for chromogranin A, synaptophysin, neuron-specific enolase, and CD56, respectively. All operable patients except the one stage M1 underwent a surgery and 4/18 had axillary lymph node metastasis. Chemotherapy was performed in 12/19, and endocrine therapy in 8/10. With a median follow-up of 59.2 months, only 2 cases progressed after postoperative systemic therapy.

Conclusion: The understanding of NEBC is limited due to its rarity. More evidence should be provided to enhance the understanding of NEBC, especially for diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

Keywords: diagnosis; follow-up; primary neuroendocrine breast carcinomas; therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CT image of the patient with hepatic metastasis in September 2012, 70 months after the initial surgical treatment. Notes: (A and B) The image of plain scan showed that the density of liver parenchyma was diffusely reduced, and extensive round-like higher density lesions in the liver. (C and D) Enhanced CT revealed multiple nodular enhancement in liver. Abbreviation: CT, computed tomography.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Post-therapy abdominal CT of the patient with hepatic metastasis in April 2013. Note: Over a period of 7 months of treatment, both (A and B) plain scan and (C and D) enhanced CT showed that the hepatic lesions were gradually decreased. Abbreviation: CT, computed tomography.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Post-therapy abdominal CT of the patient with hepatic metastasis in May 2014. Note: With 20 months of treatment, the hepatic lesions were further reduced in both (A and B) plain scan and (C and D) enhanced CT. Abbreviation: CT, computed tomography.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Surveillant CT. Notes: (A and B) The CT of the abdomen showed that the hepatic metastasis lesions of this patient progressed again in October 2014. (C and D) After a modified therapy, the reduction of hepatic lesions was obviously found by CT of the abdomen in February 2015. Abbreviation: CT, computed tomography.
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