Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast: A case report and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION: Neuroendocrine carcinomas mainly affect the bronchopulmonary system and the gastrointestinal tract. Mammary localizations are rare. They represent less than 0.1 % of all breast cancers and less than 1 % of neuroendocrine tumors. CASE REPORT: Our case concerns a 50-year-old female patient, who has presented for one year with a rapidly evolving, hard, right breast nodule without associated adenopathy. DISCUSSION: The diagnosis of certainty is based on histological study, and more particularly on immunohistochemical study. Studies concerning this entity are rare and include a small number of cases. We have described a case of triple negative neuroendocrine carcinoma with a high proliferation index. The study of larger series will allow us to better understand their histogenesis as well as their evolutionary profile. CONCLUSION: The treatment of endocrine tumors of the breast is mainly surgical. The indications for chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the same as for other breast cancers.