(1)
Chennai Breast Centre, Chennai, India
Metaplastic carcinoma is a rare tumor of the breast accounting for <1 % of all breast malignancies. The 2003 WHO publication “Tumours of the breast and female genital organs” defines metaplastic carcinoma of the breast as a heterogeneous group of neoplasms generally characterized by an intimate mixture of adenocarcinoma with dominant areas of spindle cell, squamous cell, squamous and/or mesenchymal differentiation. It is mixture of high-grade carcinoma and sarcoma and hence it has been termed carcinosarcoma. They occur in the same age group as invasive, ductal, or lobular carcinomas.
Clinical Features
They present as large rapidly growing mass and can be fixed to surrounding structures. Lymph nodal metastasis occurs from the carcinomatous elements but hematogenous metastases can occur from both carcinomatous and sarcomatous components.
Mammographic Features
Metaplastic carcinomas tend to be larger, high-density circumscribed lesions. Ossification can be seen if osteoid elements are predominant in the mass. Calcifications associated with DCIS are rare in metaplastic carcinoma (Fig. 38.1).
