Osteogenic sarcoma in the breast - Case report of a diagnostic dilemma

Abstract

Breast cancer is the leading cancer in female s worldwide , the vast majority bein g carcinomas, and only 0.2-0.3 % being sarcomas. Of the mammary sarcomas , extra-osseous osteogenic sarcomas constitute a small heterogeneous group. This communication reports a case of primary extra-osseous osteogenic sarcoma occurring in the breast of a 48-year-old female, and presents a literature review o f this condition. A pre-requisite for the diagnosis of primary mammary osteogenic sarcoma is the exclusion of an osteogenic sarcoma arising from the underlying ribs o r sternum. Like all other osteogenic sarcoma s in general, these neoplasms are characterized by the direct formation of osteoid matrix by the tumour cells. Primary osteogenic sarcoma of the breast may arise from metaplastic sarcomatous transformation of neoplastic cells in a primary breast carcinoma, fibroadenoma, malignant phyllodes tumour , o r m a y exceptionally represent a non - phyllodes sarcoma o f the breast arising from the soft tissues of an otherwise normal or previously irradiated breast.