Apocrine Breast Carcinoma with Thanatosomes (Hyaline Globules)
Thanatosomes (hyaline globules or death bodies) are histologically observed in various non-neoplastic and neoplastic conditions. Some of these globules are associated with apoptotic cell death. Only six documented cases of thanatosomes have been reported in breast tumors. In this rare case involving...
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2025-07-01
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| author | Mitsuhiro Tachibana Masashi Nozawa Tadahiro Isono Kei Tsukamoto Kazuyasu Kamimura |
| author_facet | Mitsuhiro Tachibana Masashi Nozawa Tadahiro Isono Kei Tsukamoto Kazuyasu Kamimura |
| author_sort | Mitsuhiro Tachibana |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Thanatosomes (hyaline globules or death bodies) are histologically observed in various non-neoplastic and neoplastic conditions. Some of these globules are associated with apoptotic cell death. Only six documented cases of thanatosomes have been reported in breast tumors. In this rare case involving a 64-year-old Japanese woman diagnosed as having rectal cancer, preoperative computed tomography scanning revealed breast cancer in her right breast. Following a right total mastectomy, a tumor characterized as apocrine carcinoma (carcinoma with apocrine differentiation) containing thanatosomes was discovered. These globules are PAS positive and diastase resistant, exhibit deep fuchsinophilic staining with Masson’s trichrome, stain dark blue with PTAH, and are negative for mucin by Alcian blue. The tumor cells tested positive for the androgen receptor, FOXA1, and GCDFP15. Human epidermal growth factor type 2 (HER2)/<i>neu</i> score was 3+/positive, and the Ki-67 labeling index was 60%. Thus, the tumor represented high-grade, HER2-enriched apocrine carcinoma. Thanatosomes are immunoreactive to cleaved caspase-3 and are histological markers of high cell turnover and apoptotic cell death. Therefore, in this nonspecific microscopic neoplastic condition, they are typically linked to high-grade tumors, as this case showed. This report presents a rare case of apocrine breast cancer featuring a limited number of thanatosomes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c67e9c78d8834a39b146834feab3a651 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-4418 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| spelling | doaj-art-c67e9c78d8834a39b146834feab3a6512025-08-20T03:08:01ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182025-07-011514176810.3390/diagnostics15141768Apocrine Breast Carcinoma with Thanatosomes (Hyaline Globules)Mitsuhiro Tachibana0Masashi Nozawa1Tadahiro Isono2Kei Tsukamoto3Kazuyasu Kamimura4Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Shimada General Medical Center, Shimada 427-8502, Shizuoka, JapanDepartment of Surgery, Shimada General Medical Center, Shimada 427-8502, Shizuoka, JapanDepartment of Surgery, Shimada General Medical Center, Shimada 427-8502, Shizuoka, JapanDepartment of Diagnostic Radiology, Shimada General Medical Center, Shimada 427-8502, Shizuoka, JapanDepartment of Surgery, Shimada General Medical Center, Shimada 427-8502, Shizuoka, JapanThanatosomes (hyaline globules or death bodies) are histologically observed in various non-neoplastic and neoplastic conditions. Some of these globules are associated with apoptotic cell death. Only six documented cases of thanatosomes have been reported in breast tumors. In this rare case involving a 64-year-old Japanese woman diagnosed as having rectal cancer, preoperative computed tomography scanning revealed breast cancer in her right breast. Following a right total mastectomy, a tumor characterized as apocrine carcinoma (carcinoma with apocrine differentiation) containing thanatosomes was discovered. These globules are PAS positive and diastase resistant, exhibit deep fuchsinophilic staining with Masson’s trichrome, stain dark blue with PTAH, and are negative for mucin by Alcian blue. The tumor cells tested positive for the androgen receptor, FOXA1, and GCDFP15. Human epidermal growth factor type 2 (HER2)/<i>neu</i> score was 3+/positive, and the Ki-67 labeling index was 60%. Thus, the tumor represented high-grade, HER2-enriched apocrine carcinoma. Thanatosomes are immunoreactive to cleaved caspase-3 and are histological markers of high cell turnover and apoptotic cell death. Therefore, in this nonspecific microscopic neoplastic condition, they are typically linked to high-grade tumors, as this case showed. This report presents a rare case of apocrine breast cancer featuring a limited number of thanatosomes.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/14/1768breastcarcinoma with apocrine differentiationapocrine carcinomacleaved caspase-3apoptosishyaline globules |
| spellingShingle | Mitsuhiro Tachibana Masashi Nozawa Tadahiro Isono Kei Tsukamoto Kazuyasu Kamimura Apocrine Breast Carcinoma with Thanatosomes (Hyaline Globules) Diagnostics breast carcinoma with apocrine differentiation apocrine carcinoma cleaved caspase-3 apoptosis hyaline globules |
| title | Apocrine Breast Carcinoma with Thanatosomes (Hyaline Globules) |
| title_full | Apocrine Breast Carcinoma with Thanatosomes (Hyaline Globules) |
| title_fullStr | Apocrine Breast Carcinoma with Thanatosomes (Hyaline Globules) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Apocrine Breast Carcinoma with Thanatosomes (Hyaline Globules) |
| title_short | Apocrine Breast Carcinoma with Thanatosomes (Hyaline Globules) |
| title_sort | apocrine breast carcinoma with thanatosomes hyaline globules |
| topic | breast carcinoma with apocrine differentiation apocrine carcinoma cleaved caspase-3 apoptosis hyaline globules |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/14/1768 |
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