Tubular carcinoma of the breast is a rare type of breast carinoma which has characteristic histologic findings, especially pure type tubular carcinoma in that lymp node metastases rarely occur and the prognosis is good. We report a case of resected pure type tubular carcinoma of the breast with lymph node metastasis. A 55-year-old woman was referred to the hospital because of a tumor formation at her left breast. The tumor shadow with spicula was identified by a mammogram, but the tumor could not be diagnosed as malignancy by an aspiration cytology. By an excisional biopsy, the tumor was diagnosed as tubular carcinoma. The patient underwent a mastectomy with lymph nodes dissection. Postoperative histological findings revealed pure type tubular carcinoma with axillary lymph node metastasis. Since lymph node metastasis is detected in a pure type tubular carcinoma like in this case, tubular carcinoma should be dealt with the same manner as other invasive carcinomas of the breast are treated.
Nihon Rinsho Geka Gakkai Zasshi (Journal of Japan Surgical Association)