Locally advanced mucinous carcinoma of the breast with sudden growth acceleration: a case report

We report a 35-year-old woman with locally advanced mucinous carcinoma of the breast with sudden growth acceleration. A pea-sized mass developed into an ulcerated large tumor within 1 month. After the combination of chemotherapy, radiation and hyperthermia, a radical mastectomy was performed, followed by repair of the skin defect by latissimus dorsi and rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flaps. Histological examination revealed a pure mucinous carcinoma with axillary lymph node involvement. Estrogen and progesterone receptors were not detected in the tumor. Twenty-five months after treatment, there is no sign of recurrent disease. Pure mucinous carcinoma generally has a less aggressive growth pattern as defined by tumor size, adherence to the overlying skin/bottom fasciae, estrogen and progesterone receptor positive and primary lymph axillary lymph node metastases. This case showed completely opposite features to all of these typical biological features of pure mucinous carcinomas.