Beyond the Norm: Navigating a Unique Papillary Carcinoma Journey in Breast Cancer

Cureus. 2024 May 7;16(5):e59795. doi: 10.7759/cureus.59795. eCollection 2024 May.

Abstract

The presence of papillary structures inside the tumor is a unique and uncommon characteristic of breast cancer, and it is known as papillary carcinoma. In contrast to other forms of breast cancer, this variant usually manifests as a well-defined mass in imaging investigations and is frequently linked to a good prognosis. We present a case of a 72-year-old female with papillary carcinoma of the breast identified after presenting with a palpable breast lump. Following a left simple mastectomy and adjuvant treatment, the presence of papillary structures inside the tumor was verified by a histopathological study. Understanding the clinical and pathological characteristics of breast papillary carcinoma is crucial for precise diagnosis and suitable therapy strategizing. More research is required to further understand the molecular traits and best practices for treating this uncommon subtype of breast cancer.

Keywords: breast tumor; immunohistochemistry; invasive papillary carcinoma; lymph node; simple mastectomy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports