Definition
Adenoid cystic carcinoma (AdCC) of the breast is a low-grade tumor, composed of epithelial, myoepithelial, and basal cells, showing features similar to the salivary gland counterpart.
Clinical Features
Incidence
AdCC of the breast is a rare tumor, accounting for less than 1% of all breast tumors.
Age
It usually affects elderly female patients, even if rare cases have been reported in children.
Sex
AdCC usually affects female patients, rare cases have been reported in males.
Site
AdCC is more frequently located in the retroareolar region, but it can affect all the breast quadrants. It can present as a mass of variable size or as screen detected nodule.
Treatment
Radical surgery is the treatment of choice.
Outcome
AdCC is a low malignant potential tumor therefore prognosis is usually good. Recurrences and disease progression are rare. To better predict prognosis, AdCC should be subdivided in three different categories: (i) AdCC classical variant shows good prognosis, with no...
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References and Further Reading
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Foschini, M.P., Morandi, L. (2020). Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma. In: Sapino, A., Kulka, J. (eds) Breast Pathology. Encyclopedia of Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62539-3_4697
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62539-3_4697
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