Snapshot quiz 11/1

Published: 05/23/2012

Authors: Chintamani VMMC

This 65-year-old lady has carcinoma of accessory breast tissue. Ultrasound guided core needle biopsy showed moderately differentiated infiltrating duct carcinoma arising from accessory breast tissue (both breasts were normal). Wide local excision along with axillary dissection confirmed a moderately differentiated infiltrating duct carcinoma. Eight out of twenty axillary lymph nodes were positive for metastases. She received adjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy to the axilla and tamoxifen. Primary accessory breast cancer is rare with poor outcome due to early lymph node metastases. Mastectomy is not needed if the breasts are otherwise normal.