Cystic Benign Phyllodes Tumor in the Inguinal Region

Article information

Abstract

CASE REPORT

A 51-year-old female was admitted to our hospital for the evaluation of a mass in the right groin area that had been present for two years. She had no specific clinical history. A mass lesion was identified with positron emission tomography-comcomputed tomography. The mass was 27 mm in the lmgest diameter with F-18 fluoro-deoxyglucose uptake (SUVmax 1.4), and it was located on the superolateral side of the inguinal area (Fig. 1). The mass was excised under local anesthesia. A differential diagnosis of lymphoma is the major concern in this case.

Fig. 1

Positron emission tomography-computed tomography shows a right inguinal mass (27 mm) with low metabolism (arrow).

The resected specimen was 4×3 cm in size and the tumor was well circumscribed. The mass showed numerous papillary nodular protrusions into a central elongated cystic cavity (3.5×2.5 cm). No necrosis or hemorrhage was observed within the mass (Fig. 2). Eccentrically, a whitish gray, solid soft tissue area (1.2 cm in diameter) was present.

Fig. 2

The tumor is well-circumscribed and showed numerous papillary nodular protrusions into a central cystic cavity (3.5×2.5 cm) (A). Eccentrically, a normal breast tissue (B) is present.

The microscopic findings showed a central elongated cyst with intraluminal projections (Fig. 3A), which were composed of hyperplastic epithelium-lined stroma (Fig. 3B). Stromal cells had no mitosis, low-to-moderate cellularity, and mild cytologic atypia (Fig. 3C). The lining epithelial cells were strongly positive for estrogen and progesterone receptors (Fig. 3D). In the periphery of the mass, normal breast tissue was identified (Fig. 4). The final pathological results were consistent with a benign PT with prominent intracystic growth, derived from an ectopic breast. Three months after the procedure, the patient was doing well without any recurrence.

Fig. 3

The microscopic findings show a central elongated cyst with intraluminal projections (A), which is composed of hyperplastic epithelium lined stroma (B). Stromal cells have no mitosis, low-to-moderated cellularity, and mild cytoplasm atypia (C). The lining epithelial cells are diffusely and strongly positive for estrogen receptor. Myoepithelial cells are nonreactive (immunohistochemistry for estrogen receptor [red] and smooth muscle actin [brown]) (D).

Fig. 4

In the periphery of the mass, normal breast tissue is identified.

DISCUSSION

Ectopic breast tissue occurs along the milk lines, which extend bilaterally from the mid-axillae through the normal breasts and then inferiorly to the medial groins. The inferior extensions of the milk lines traverse the vulva bilaterally. The milk ridge, the embryological anlage, later undergoes complete atrophy. Ectopic breasts develop from the milk ridges that fail to atrophy.1 Most patients with clinically apparent ectopic breast tissue have unilateral or bilateral axillary involvement. Thoracic, abdominal, inguinal, and vulvar ectopic breasts are much less common,1 and only one case has been presented as an inguinal mass.2

Ectopic breast tissue can involve benign and malignant pathologic changes similar to those that occur in normally located breast tissue,3 such as fibroadenoma, fibrocystic changes, sarcomatous changes, and carcinoma.8

Anogenital mammary-like glands are mainly located in the sulcus between the labia minora and majora and are often found in pathologic specimens originating from the anogenital area. Their normal histology varies, but closely imitates breast tissue. Lesions involving anogenital mammary-like glands manifest a striking similarity to their mammary counterparts. Therefore, in this specific location, mammary-like lesions might originate from ectopic breast or anogenital mammary-like glands.4

PTs in an ectopic location are rare, and they mostly have been reported in the vulva and axilla.3,5 A review of the literature revealed only four cases in the vulva and two cases in the axilla (Table 1).3,9-12 All cases had normal mammary tissues surrounding the mass.

Table 1.

Summary of the reported cases of ectopic phyllodes tumor

PTs represent fibroepithelial proliferations of the breast tissue,6 and they are circumscribed biphasic tumors, analogous to fibroadenomas.7 The external surface of a PT is well circumscribed but not encapsulated.1 The bisected tumor is composed of firm, bulging gray to tan tissue.1 The size of the tumors vary from 1 to 40 cm. Due to a rapid increase in the size of the mass, degenerative changes might occur from hemorrhagic fluid flowing into the cystic cavity. Larger tumors may show hemorrhage and necrosis,7 and these alterations are more common in malignant PTs but can occur in large benign lesions as well.1 As a result, they frequently contain gross clefts or cystic cavities.7 Histologically, the tumor is characterized by a double-layered benign epithelial component arranged in clefts and surrounded by an overgrowing hypercellular mesenchymal component typically organized in leaf-like structures. They usually exhibit an enhanced intracanalicular growth pattern with leaf-like projections into the dilated lumina.7 Depending on the bland or sarcomatous characteristics of their mesenchymal (stromal) components, they display a morphological spectrum lying somewhere in between fibroadenomas and pure stromal sarcomas.7

Although larger lesions are prone to cystic degeneration,6 it is uncommon to observe a PT growing entirely within a cystically dilated ductal structure in the breast; the tumor rarely shows intracystic growth.7 An unusual variant of PT has an exaggerated cystic component resulting in a gross appearance that is difficult to distinguish from a cystic papilloma.1 Only five similar cases have been reported in the literature so far in breasts. Two separate reports of an intracystic growth pattern of PT, both borderline cases, were described in 1998 in Japan,13,14 and an intracystic PT that grew along the lumen of the lactiferous duct and caused nipple discharge was described in a Malay woman.15 Recently, two additional cases of benign intracystic PTs of the breast were reported.6,7 Because an intraductal growth pattern may mimic an intraductal papilloma on ultrasonography, which can lead to microdochectomy rather than the referred wide excision for PT in the breast,15 a preoperative diagnosis is important in these tumors of the breast. However, a PT with a predominant cystic component has not been reported yet in an ectopic breast. To our knowledge, the present lesion was the first reported case of a benign intracystic PT in the inguinal region. It is worthy to recognize this entity to rule out malignant lymphoma, because a clinically inguinal mass raises the possibility of lymph node enlargement.

Article information Continued