What is metaplastic carcinoma breast cancer?
Metaplastic carcinoma is a heterogeneous group of invasive breast carcinomas with differentiation of the neoplastic epithelium towards squamous cells and/or mesenchymal-like elements, such as spindle, chondroid, and osseous cells. Metaplastic carcinomas account for less than 1% of all invasive breast cancers.
How is metaplastic breast cancer diagnosed?
A biopsy is the only way to confirm a breast cancer diagnosis. After taking a sample of tissue from the tumor, a pathologist examines it under a microscope. The presence of multiple types of cells can suggest that it’s metaplastic breast cancer.
Do we grade Metaplastic carcinoma breast?
The WHO Classification of Breast Tumors classifies MpBC as mixed metaplastic carcinoma, low-grade adenosquamous carcinoma, fibromatosis-like, squamous cell carcinoma, spindle cell carcinoma, and metaplastic carcinoma with mesenchymal differentiation [1, 7].
How long can you live with metaplastic breast cancer?
The median overall survival time with metastatic disease was only 3.4 months. Conclusion: MpBC is an aggressive type of breast cancer with poor outcome despite low nodal involvement and aggressive local and systemic therapy.
What is the best treatment for metaplastic breast cancer?
Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy will be recommended for many people with metaplastic breast cancer. Chemotherapy destroys cancer cells using anti-cancer drugs, and is given to reduce the risk of breast cancer returning or spreading.
How fast does metaplastic breast cancer grow?
Metaplastic breast cancer recurs more often and more quickly compared to IDC and LDC. It has a peak recurrence rate of 18 months to 3-5 years after treatment.
Can metaplastic breast cancer be misdiagnosed?
Many patients with metaplastic breast carcinoma are initially misdiagnosed because it is difficult to classify rare tumors based on heterogeneous imaging characteristics.
How is metaplastic carcinoma treated?
Metaplastic Breast Cancer Staging and Treatment Local therapy is aimed at preventing the cancer from coming back in the breast. Local therapy includes surgery (lumpectomy or mastectomy), and may include radiation. Systemic therapy is used to prevent the disease from coming back or spreading to another part of the body.
Can you cure metaplastic breast cancer?
Metaplastic breast cancer (MpBC) is a rare type of fast-growing breast cancer that can spread anywhere in the body. Doctors often detect it in the later stages, so it is not curable, but treatment can help people manage the disease.