A case of large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma originating from the breast

Abstract

This paper deals with a 57-year-old woman who was found having a right breast tumor during exploration for carcinoma of the uterine body. CT revealed synchronous multiple hepatic metastases as well. The patient was referred to our department and underwent right partial mastectomy. Histopathological studies showed that the tumor cells were large with prominent atypical nuclei, and immunohistochemically neuroendocrine markers were positive. Thus large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC) was diagnosed. The liver metastases were initially considered to be derived from carcinoma of the uterine body, however, total hysterectomy and bilateral adnexectomy for uterine body carcinoma disclosed that the disease was in postoperative clinical stage Ib. Accordingly hepatic metastases were considered to be due to breast LCNEC rather than due to uterine body carcinoma. The patient received chemotherapy at our department, but died about 10 months after the mastectomy.
Few cases of breast LCNEC have been reported in this country, so that we have to accumulate clinical cases to evaluate the therapeutic outcomes and prognosis.