Abstract:

Objective: To analyze the clinical-pathological features, treatment and prognosis of encapsulated papillary carcinoma (EPC) of breast. Methods: Thirty-one cases with EPC were enrolled. Clinical symptoms and pathological characteristics were retrospectively analyzed. The immunohistochemical staining included P63, CK5/6, Calponin, ER, PR, HER2, Ki67. Results: All of the cases were woman with a mean age of 63 years old, ranging from 34 to 83 years old. Palpable mass and nipple discharge were the most common symptoms. The mass ranged in size from 0.8-6.5 cm (mean 3 cm). Microscopic examination showed that majority of the EPCs were single lesion. A thick fibrous capsule is evident under low-power examination. The nodule surrounded by capsule was composed of delicate fibrovascular stalks, covered with a monomorphic population of neoplastic epithelial cells with low-or intermediate-grade nuclei. The epithelial cells were typically arranged in either solid or cribriform pattern. The tumor cells were positive for ER and PR, but were HER2 negative; P63, CK5/6 and Calponin were negative. The positive percentage for Ki67 was under 10%. Conclusions: EPC is a breast tumor with good prognosis generally found in elderly women. The tumor cells are typically arranged in either solid or cribriform pattern and diffusely positive for ER and PR, but HER2 was negative. Myoepithelial cell markers including P63, CK5/6 and Calponin were negative. The positive percentage for Ki67 is under 10%. The EPC is diagnosed according to these characteristics, which are helpful for the designing of reasonable treatment.

Key words: Breast, Encapsulated papillary carcinoma, Immunohistochemistry