Unveiling Rare Breast Neoplasms: Diagnostic Challenges and Insights
Authors:   Department of Pathology, Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Tata Memorial Centre, Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), New Chandigarh, Punjab, Mohamedali Rasheeda , Nishith Nilay ,   Department of Pathology, Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Tata Memorial Centre, Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), New Chandigarh, Punjab, Raj Rahul ,   Department of Pathology, Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Tata Memorial Centre, Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), New Chandigarh, Punjab, Ahuja Nishtha ,   Department of Pathology, Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Tata Memorial Centre, Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), New Chandigarh, Punjab, Sharma Aishwarya ,   Department of Pathology, Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Tata Memorial Centre, Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), New Chandigarh, Punjab, Somal Puneet Kaur ,   Department of Pathology, Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Tata Memorial Centre, Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), New Chandigarh, Punjab, Pawar Ravikiran N ,   Department of Pathology, Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Tata Memorial Centre, Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), New Chandigarh, Punjab, Sancheti Sankalp ,   Department of Pathology, Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Tata Memorial Centre, Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), New Chandigarh, Punjab
Published: January 2025

Breast neoplasm encompasses a diversified range of different diseases characterized by unique biological and pathological features, clinical presentation, response to treatments, clinical behavior, and outcome. The histological variability has profound prognostic implications, thus playing a pivotal role in diagnosing breast neoplasm. Special histologies can occur rarely, and most information on outcomes and treatments is mainly derived from small series and case reports. Thus, reporting such unusual occurrences is of utmost importance.
This is a retrospective study of four years in which 11 cases of breast neoplasm diagnosed on histopathology were assessed. The clinical details were acquired from an electronic search. The hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemistry slides were retrieved from the archives to review the histopathological features.
The patient’s age ranged from 32 to 72 years (median: 51 years). Eleven unusual cases of breast neoplasms were diagnosed and categorized according to the latest World Health Organisation (WHO) classification. These cases include rare and salivary gland type tumors (2 cases), neuroendocrine neoplasms (1 case), hamartomas of the breast (2 cases), fibroblastic and myofibroblastic tumors of the breast (1 case), peripheral nerve sheath tumor (1 case) and hematolymphoid tumors of the breast (4 cases).
The management of unusual breast cancer histotypes represents a real challenge in daily clinical practice. Our data suggest that these variants are distinct clinicopathological entities with unique hormonal receptor statuses. The occurrence of such entities is rare, and they demonstrate different clinical behaviors and responses to treatment, suggesting that a few genomic-specific events might also drive them. Therefore, it is important to indulge in future research on such rare breast neoplasms.