Description of Adenoid Cystic Breast Carcinoma:
Named for their microscopic appearance, adenoid cystic cancer cells resemble adenoid (glandular) and cystic cells. Usually not aggressive, this type of breast cancer has a good chance of recovery after treatment. Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is not a breast fibroadenoma nor is it a breast cyst, both of which are benign breast conditions.
Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma – A Rare Breast Cancer Diagnosis:
ACC of the breast is rare, occurring in less than 1% of all breast cancers. ACC may occur in women ages 37 to 94 years old, with the majority of patients being postmenopausal women.
Also Known As:
Adenoid cystic breast cancer, ACC, ACCB, AbCC, adenocystic carcinoma
Signs and Symptoms of ACC:
ACC may be quite small or it can be large enough to be felt as a breast lump, which sometimes causes swelling and breast pain. The size of an adenoid cystic breast carcinoma can vary from 0.5cm (0.19 inches) to 20mm (0.78inches).
Tests Used to Diagnose Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma:
- Mammogram – an ACC will have a distinctly dense appearance on a mammogram
- Breast ultrasound – an ACC tumor may be bumpy or have a fuzzy outline and an irregular shape on an ultrasound
- Breast biopsy – a core needle biopsy or open surgical biopsy will be used to take a tissue sample
- Sentinel lymph node biopsy – a test used to check for spread of cancer cells
Prognosis is Good, Recurrence is Rare:
Most cases of ACC of the breast do not spread to the lymph nodes and rarely metastasize to other parts of the body. Not all cases of ACC are fueled by estrogen or progesterone, but some may be hormone-sensitive. ACC can be effectively treated, with very little risk of recurrence, and have an excellent outlook for complete recovery.
Treatments for Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma:
- Lumpectomy – surgery to remove the tumor and a wide margin of surrounding tissue (helps prevent recurrence)
- Mastectomy – surgery to remove all of the breast tissue, for larger tumors
- Radiation – may be done after a lumpectomy to prevent recurrence
- Hormone therapy – for hormone-sensitive tumors
Sources:
American Cancer Society. What is Breast Cancer? Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma. Revised: 09/13/2007.
American Cancer Society. What is Breast Cancer? Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma. Revised: 09/13/2007.
American Journal of Surgery, 2002 Jun;183(6):646-9. Adenoid cystic breast cancer. McClenathan JH, de la Roza G.
Cancer. 2002 Apr 15;94(8):2119-27. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast: molecular markers, treatment, and clinical outcome. Arpino G, Clark GM, Mohsin S, Bardou VJ, Elledge RM.
