Metaplastic Carcinoma of Breast: Clinically Aggressive Tumour Case and Literature Review

A 36 years old Malay woman was presented with 2 months old painless, ulcerating right breast swelling. Multiple right axillary lymph nodes size of about 1cm and palpable was found during examination. Core biopsy of the tumour showed features of phyllodes tumour. Staging CT scan of thorax, abdomen and pelvis reported right breast carcinoma with local invasion to pectoralis major muscle and metastasis to right axillary lymph nodes. Adjuvant chemotherapy was planned. Patient developed local recurrence at SSG site. During 2nd cycle of chemotherapy, neutropenic sepsis with septic shock developed. Patient passed away 3 months after the initial diagnosis. Patients are treated by using the same principles that govern treatment of IDC. Considering the differences in the clinical and biologic behaviour of these tumours as compared to IDC, multi-institutional clinical trials designed specifically for MBC would be useful to characterize the biology and therapy of this disease.