Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast: Sensitivity to cisplatinum-based chemotherapy

✍ Scribed by Dawn Dejager; Dr. Philip N. Redlich; Anne M. Dayer; Hugh L. Davis; Richard A. Komorowski

• Book ID: 102924333
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1995
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 619 KB
• Volume: 59
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-4790
• DOI: 10.1002/jso.2930590313

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the breast is a rare malignancy whose optimal treatment and prognosis anre unknown. A patient with SCC whose tumor responded dramatically to chemotherapy as part of multimodal treatment is presented. A 61‐year‐old woman had a palpable 5.5‐cm tender left breast mass with overlying skin edema and erythema and irregular margins by mammography. Fine needle aspiration revealed malignant squamous cells with keratinization; incisional biopsy confirmed SCC. Extensive evaluation for an extramammary primary site of disease was negative.

Neoadjuvant cisplatinum and 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) led to tumor shrinkage and complete resolution of pain and erythema. Modified radical mastectomy with post‐operative chest wall radiation were performed. Neither residual invasive carcinoma nor metastatic nodal disease was found, though intraductal carcinoma with marked squamous features was identified. The patient remains disease‐free 2.5 years after diagnosis. Cisplatinum‐based chemotherapy should be considered in the treatment regimen of this disease.