A case of carcinosarcoma of the breast

Abstract

Carcinosarcoma of the breast is rare. A 65-year-old woman developed a right breast mass. A tumor, 3 cm in diameter, was palpated in the C region of the right breast. On mammography and ultrasonography, an invasive ductal carcinoma was suspected ; on aspiration cytology, ductal carcinoma with sarcomatous component was suspected. A modified radical mastectomy was performed. On histology, a tumor consisting of intermingled carcinomatous and sarcomatous areas was found.
Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the carcinomatous component stained positive for AE1/AE3 and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), the sarcomatous component stained positive for vimentin. The two components were intermingled and there was no transitional area. A carcinosarcoma of the breast was diagnosed. We report this case and review the relevant literature.