Rare histological subtypes of breast cancer: A study of 10 years' experience at (SATH) UK District General Hospital (2022)

Type of publication:Conference abstract

Author(s):*Mansour A.; *Pettit L.

Citation:European Journal of Surgical Oncology; Feb 2022; vol. 48 (no. 2)

Abstract:Background: Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with different histologic subtypes, molecular characteristics, oestrogen receptors (ER) and HER2 status. Common subtype include lobular and ductal cancers. The rare subtypes are a heterogeneous group with differing behaviour specific for each subtype. This study aims to determine the clinicopathological features, management pathway and survival outcome of rare subtypes of invasive breast cancer (IBC) at a single U.K. hospital.Material(s) and Method(s): Data was obtained from the department of Cellular Pathology at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital (SATH) NHS Trust. All patients diagnosed with a rare subtype of breast cancer from January 2005 to December 2014 were identified. The histology diagnosis of a rare subtype of breast cancer was reviewed. Biological behaviour, management, follow up and prognosis were obtained from surgical and oncology clinic letters. Also, survival data and cause of death when applicable is reviewed from Clinical Portal (our hospital digital documentation system). Patients with imaging, after the introduction of the digital format to the system in 2012, were also reviewed.
Result(s): Total number of patients diagnosed with IBC was 3049. 201 patients (6.59%) were identified to have a rare subtype of IBC. Patients were divided into subgroups according to their specific rare subtype and included mucinous, tubular, medullary, metaplastic, papillary, neuroendocrine, cribriform, apocrine, malignant phyllodes, angiosarcoma, lymphoma and metastatic from non-breast primary. Some cancers had good prognosis with 100% 5 years overall survival like tubular carcinoma and some have poor prognosis like metaplastic and angiosarcoma.Conclusion(s): Our experience with these heterogeneous groups of rare subtypes of breast cancer identified the clinical behaviour and prognosis of each type. This could be the basis to improve the management of these subtypes and for further studies to improve the outcome for patients with identified breast cancer known to have poorer prognosis.