High Grade Neuroendocrine Carcinoma (Small Cell Carcinoma) of the Breast
Definition
- Breast carcinoma with small cell neuroendocrine pattern
Alternate / historical names
- Oat cell carcinoma
- Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma
- Small cell undfferentiated carcinoma
Diagnostic Criteria
- Scant cytoplasm
- Fine granular chromatin
- Inconspicuous nucleoli
- High mitotic rate
- Necrosis common
- In situ small cell component may be present
- May be associated with other conventional breast carcinoma patterns
- Very rare large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas may occur in the breast
- Low grade neuroendocrine carcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma NOS are considered separately
Richard L Kempson MD
Robert V Rouse MD
Department of Pathology
Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford CA 94305-5342
Original posting: May 1, 2006
