TWO CASES OF PRIMARY CARCINOID TUMOR OF THE BREAST

Abstract

Carcinoid tumor of the breast is rare and classified into special type of breast carcinoma. Two patients with primary carcinoid tumor of the breast are reported. One was a 40-year-old female who had a 2.0×1.8cm hard mass in the A region of the right breast. Aspiration biopsy cytology revealed class V. Auchincloss operation was performed. The other was a 47-year-old female who had a 5.0×3.0cm unmovable hard mass in the A region of the right breast. Aspiration biopsy cytology revealed class V. She had lymph node metastasis on her axillar and supraclavicular regions. Halsted operation was performed. Histopathologically, both tumors were identical and composed of small cells arranged in solid nests or in a trabecular pattern. Grimelius technique demonstrated argyrophil-positive cytolplsmic granules in both cases. Electron microscopic study showed neurosecretory granules. On special stains, only neuron specific enulase (NSE) was positive in both cases.