Adenomyoepithelioma of the breast misdiagnosed as metaplastic carcinoma in a 64-year-old female: A case report and review of literature

Abstract

Adenomyoepithelioma (AME) of the breast is a benign and indolent biphasic rare neoplasm characterized by dual proliferation of glandular and myoepithelial elements, which have propensity for local recurrences and malignant transformations. AME tumors are easily recognized in an excised biopsy, but it is more difficult to make a definitive diagnosis with core needle or limited biopsy because of morphologic heterogeneity. In these biopsies, diagnosis may be mistaken for invasive carcinoma most probably metaplastic carcinoma/carcinosarcoma or invasive ductal carcinoma. This article aims to highlight the diagnostic challenge of AME on core nipple biopsy or challenges encounter in inadequate sampling of the lesion, its recurrence potential, and rarity of this neoplasm in literature. We report a case of AME in the breast formerly diagnosed as an invasive ductal and metaplastic carcinoma on limited biopsies at different times and in different hospitals.

Keywords

• Adenomyoepithelioma
• core needle biopsy
• invasive ductal carcinoma
• local recurrence
• metaplastic carcinoma