Mucinous carcinoma of breast: A rare tumour with favorable prognosis - 10 years experience from a single center
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the biological behaviour of mucinous breast carcinoma (MBC) regarding their clinical presentations, pathological features, prognosis and survival.
Methodology: We conducted this retrospective study from 2006 to 2015 (10-year duration) and included all the patients who presented with mucinous carcinoma of the breast at any age. We excluded all the patients who presented with invasive ductal carcinoma or other rare breast tumours. Each patient with mucinous carcinoma breast was categorised in terms of diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy and outcome. For categorical variables, Chi-square test was used. Kaplan–Meier curves were used to determine estimated overall survival. Data analysis was carried out using the SPSS 20.
Results: In total, 8841 patients with breast carcinoma presented during the study period. Of these, 74 patients were diagnosed as cases of MBC, constituting <1%. Family history of breast carcinoma was positive in 20% of patients. Most of the women were postmenopausal (66.2%) falling in BIRADS Category 4 and 5 (32.4% each). Considering laterality tumours had almost equal distribution between the right and left side. Breast-conserving surgery was performed in 47.3% of women as compare to modified radicle mastectomy in 52.7% of women. Most of the patients had pathological T2 (51.4%), N0 (81.1%) and moderately differentiated (69%) mucinous carcinoma. ER was positive in 85% of patients, PR in 80% and H2N in 74.6% of patients. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was given to 20 patients (27%) and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy was given to 51 patients (69%). Metastasis occurred in 12 (16.2%) of our patients while 62 (83.8%) were metastasis free on long-term follow-up, with bones being the most common site of metastasis, occurring in 6 patients (8.1%) followed by lungs, occurring in 4 patients (5.4%). A total of 32 (43.2%) patients are alive, and on regular follow-up, 3 (4.1%) died during the course of follow-up and 39 (52.7%) are lost to follow-up with a median survival of 60 months and an overall 5-year survival rate of >95%.
Conclusion: Mucinous carcinoma is a rare breast carcinoma with a good prognosis.
Key words: Breast cancer, mucinous carcinoma, prognosis
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