Adenoid cystic carcinoma of breast – a case report

Introduction: Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast is a rare neoplasm constituting of 0.1% of breast carcinomas. A 40 year old female patient presented with lump in the right breast. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of a lump in the lower inner quadrant revealed adenoid cystic carcinoma. We received specimen of modified radical mastectomy (MRM) with axillary dissection. Histopathology in our department revealed adenoid cystic carcinoma, eight lymph nodes were dissected out and all were free of tumour. Discussion: Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast is a rare neoplasm and it differs from other breast carcinomas because of its favourable prognosis. This carcinoma occurs predominantly in women in their fifth decade and usually presents as a breast mass. The diagnosis was made on fine needle aspiration cytology which was latter also confirmed by histopathology. Modified radical mastectomy (MRM) was performed with axillary dissection, and eight lymph nodes were dissected out, which were free of tumour. Conclusion: ACC is a rare malignant neoplasm. Surgical treatment is the mainstay and radiotherapy and chemotherapy have little role.