Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Breast Pathology pp 308–311Cite as

Myoepithelial Carcinoma of the Breast

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:

  • 1189 Accesses

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Pathology ((EP))

Synonyms

Malignant myoepithelioma; Metaplastic carcinoma; Spindle cell carcinoma

Definition

A malignant lesion composed of myoepithelial cells with increased mitotic activity and expression of myoepithelial markers, such as high molecular weight cytokeratins, p63, smooth muscle actin, and others.

Clinical Features

  • Incidence

    Myoepithelial carcinomas of the breast represent an extremely rare and poorly understood entity of invasive breast cancer. The exact incidence of these tumors is unknown, partially due to the disputed definition. According to the actual WHO classification, myoepithelial carcinomas are a subgroup of metaplastic carcinoma (Reis-Filho et al. 2012). Under these assumptions, the incidence is probably significantly lower than <1%.

  • Age

    Myoepithelial carcinomas have been seen in all age groups from 25 to 81 years.

  • Sex

    Rare cases of myoepithelial carcinoma of the breast have been described in women. The incidence in male patients is not known.

  • Site

    A predominant site within...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   439.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   649.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References and Further Reading

  • Fine, M. A., & Kurdek, L. A. (2016). An approach to the diagnosis of spindle cell lesions of the breast. Histopathology, 68, 33–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reis-Filho, J. S., Lakhani, S. R., Gobbi, H., & Sneige, N. (2012). Metaplastic carcinoma. In S. R. Lakhani, I. O. Ellis, S. J. Schnitt, P. H. Tan, & M. J. van de Vijver (Eds.), WHO classification of tumours of the breast (pp. 119–124). IACR: Lyon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmitt, F., Tan, P. H., Dabbs, D., & Jones, L. (2012). Myoepithelial and epithelial–myoepithelial lesions. In S. R. Lakhani, I. O. Ellis, S. J. Schnitt, P. H. Tan, & M. J. van de Vijver (Eds.), WHO classification of tumours of the breast (pp. 119–124). IACR: Lyon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schnitt, S. J., & Collins, L. C. (2009). Spindle cell lesions. In S. J. Schnitt (Ed.), Biopsy interpretation of the breast (pp. 323–343). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tan, P. H., & Ellis, I. O. (2013). Myoepithelial and epithelial–myoepithelial, mesenchymal and fibroepithelial breast lesions: Updates from the WHO Classification of Tumours of the Breast 2012. Journal of Clinical Pathology, 66, 465–470.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tavassoli, F. A., & Eusebi, V. (2009). Myoepithelial lesions. In F. A. Tavassoli & V. Eusebi (Eds.), Tumors of the mammary gland (pp. 249–262). Washington, DC: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weidner, N., & Dabbs, J. D. (2012). Myoepithelial lesions of the breast. In D. J. Dabbs (Ed.), Breast pathology (pp. 307–323). Philadelphia: Saunders.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pathology Paderborn/Höxter, Paderborn, Germany

    Horst Bürger

Authors
  1. Horst Bürger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Horst Bürger .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Pathology, Candiolo Cancer Institute FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy

    Anna Sapino

  2. Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy

    Anna Sapino

  3. 2nd Department of Pathology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary

    Janina Kulka

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Bürger, H. (2020). Myoepithelial Carcinoma of the Breast. In: Sapino, A., Kulka, J. (eds) Breast Pathology. Encyclopedia of Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62539-3_4768

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62539-3_4768

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-62538-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-62539-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation