A hidden diagnosis: Axillary ectopic breast cancer presenting as progressive lymphadenopathy: A rare case report and literature review
Ectopic breast cancer (EBC) is a rare malignancy arising from mammary tissue located outside the normal breast area, most commonly in the axilla. Its atypical presentation, often without associated breast abnormalities, can lead to delayed diagnosis. We describe the case of a 48-year-old woman prese...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Radiology Case Reports |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1930043325005588 |
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| author | Marouane Boukroute Abdelmajide Regragui Ibtissam Bellajdel Chetbi Zaineb Hafsa Taheri Hanane Saadi Ahmed Mimouni |
| author_facet | Marouane Boukroute Abdelmajide Regragui Ibtissam Bellajdel Chetbi Zaineb Hafsa Taheri Hanane Saadi Ahmed Mimouni |
| author_sort | Marouane Boukroute |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ectopic breast cancer (EBC) is a rare malignancy arising from mammary tissue located outside the normal breast area, most commonly in the axilla. Its atypical presentation, often without associated breast abnormalities, can lead to delayed diagnosis. We describe the case of a 48-year-old woman presenting with progressive right axillary lymphadenopathy over 23 months. Imaging, including mammography and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted breast MRI, showed no identifiable primary breast lesion. Histopathological analysis of a core needle biopsy revealed undifferentiated carcinoma with positive hormonal receptor status, consistent with invasive lobular carcinoma arising from ectopic mammary tissue. The patient underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgical excision, axillary lymph node dissection, and received adjuvant radiotherapy and endocrine therapy. This case underscores the diagnostic challenge of EBC and highlights the importance of considering it in the differential diagnosis of axillary masses. Early histological confirmation and a multidisciplinary management approach are essential to optimize patient outcomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-01ca4d3089834e8db29b1b6738d9d855 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1930-0433 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Radiology Case Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-01ca4d3089834e8db29b1b6738d9d8552025-08-20T03:50:22ZengElsevierRadiology Case Reports1930-04332025-09-012094690469410.1016/j.radcr.2025.06.011A hidden diagnosis: Axillary ectopic breast cancer presenting as progressive lymphadenopathy: A rare case report and literature reviewMarouane Boukroute0Abdelmajide Regragui1Ibtissam Bellajdel2Chetbi Zaineb3Hafsa Taheri4Hanane Saadi5Ahmed Mimouni6Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mohammed VI University Hospital Center, Oujda, Morocco; Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed First University Oujda, Oujda, Morocco; Corresponding author.Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mohammed VI University Hospital Center, Oujda, Morocco; Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed First University Oujda, Oujda, MoroccoDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mohammed VI University Hospital Center, Oujda, Morocco; Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed First University Oujda, Oujda, MoroccoDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mohammed VI University Hospital Center, Oujda, Morocco; Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed First University Oujda, Oujda, MoroccoDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mohammed VI University Hospital Center, Oujda, Morocco; Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed First University Oujda, Oujda, MoroccoDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mohammed VI University Hospital Center, Oujda, Morocco; Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed First University Oujda, Oujda, MoroccoDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mohammed VI University Hospital Center, Oujda, Morocco; Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed First University Oujda, Oujda, MoroccoEctopic breast cancer (EBC) is a rare malignancy arising from mammary tissue located outside the normal breast area, most commonly in the axilla. Its atypical presentation, often without associated breast abnormalities, can lead to delayed diagnosis. We describe the case of a 48-year-old woman presenting with progressive right axillary lymphadenopathy over 23 months. Imaging, including mammography and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted breast MRI, showed no identifiable primary breast lesion. Histopathological analysis of a core needle biopsy revealed undifferentiated carcinoma with positive hormonal receptor status, consistent with invasive lobular carcinoma arising from ectopic mammary tissue. The patient underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgical excision, axillary lymph node dissection, and received adjuvant radiotherapy and endocrine therapy. This case underscores the diagnostic challenge of EBC and highlights the importance of considering it in the differential diagnosis of axillary masses. Early histological confirmation and a multidisciplinary management approach are essential to optimize patient outcomes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1930043325005588Axillary ectopic breast cancerHormonal receptor-positive carcinomaLymphadenopathyNeoadjuvant chemotherapy |
| spellingShingle | Marouane Boukroute Abdelmajide Regragui Ibtissam Bellajdel Chetbi Zaineb Hafsa Taheri Hanane Saadi Ahmed Mimouni A hidden diagnosis: Axillary ectopic breast cancer presenting as progressive lymphadenopathy: A rare case report and literature review Radiology Case Reports Axillary ectopic breast cancer Hormonal receptor-positive carcinoma Lymphadenopathy Neoadjuvant chemotherapy |
| title | A hidden diagnosis: Axillary ectopic breast cancer presenting as progressive lymphadenopathy: A rare case report and literature review |
| title_full | A hidden diagnosis: Axillary ectopic breast cancer presenting as progressive lymphadenopathy: A rare case report and literature review |
| title_fullStr | A hidden diagnosis: Axillary ectopic breast cancer presenting as progressive lymphadenopathy: A rare case report and literature review |
| title_full_unstemmed | A hidden diagnosis: Axillary ectopic breast cancer presenting as progressive lymphadenopathy: A rare case report and literature review |
| title_short | A hidden diagnosis: Axillary ectopic breast cancer presenting as progressive lymphadenopathy: A rare case report and literature review |
| title_sort | hidden diagnosis axillary ectopic breast cancer presenting as progressive lymphadenopathy a rare case report and literature review |
| topic | Axillary ectopic breast cancer Hormonal receptor-positive carcinoma Lymphadenopathy Neoadjuvant chemotherapy |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1930043325005588 |
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