Metaplastic Carcinoma Breast in Polycythemic Octogenarian – Lessons Learnt: Case Report

An 80-year-old lady presented with lump Left breast of 8 months duration. Clinically was aT4b lesion, sonomammogram showed BIRADS V lesion and core needle breast biopsy features were suggestive of metaplastic carcinoma breast of adenosquamous type, ER, PR-Positive, Her2Neu-Negative. Patient received preoperative hormonal therapy followed by modified radical mastectomy and postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and hormonal therapy. Post operative patient showed good clinical recovery and was recurrence free at 6 months follow up although patient had all the poor prognostic factors with large size, LN involvement and high Ki 67. This article is a rare example of metaplastic breast carcinoma presenting in geriatric age group and showing good recovery despite presence of all poor prognostic factors. Hence this report is to enlighten the medical caregivers about the existence of this rare entity and challenges involved in management of this entity

Predictors of Unilateral Arm Lymphedema in Non-obese Locoregionally Advanced Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy, Modified Radical Mastectomy, and Postoperative Irradiation

Objective: The most dreaded long-term complication of axillary lymph node dissection remains upper arm lymphedema. Our study has strategized the three most common identified causes of post treatment arm lymphedema, i.e., obesity, radiation, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy and tried to identify the histopathological and clinical or surgical factors which can predict arm lymphedema. Materials and Methods: This is a prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care referral centre in India, with strict inclusion criteria of BMI <30 kg/m2, age <75 years, presence of metastatic axillary node proven by FNAC, received anthracycline based neoadjuvant chemotherapy and postoperative nodal irradiation, and completed 24 months of regular follow-up. Results: Total of 70 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 50.3 years (±12.9). lymphovascular invasion, total number of lymph nodes removed from level III, total number of days drain was left in situ and maximum drain output were found to be significantly (p<0.05) associated with arm lymphedema. Conclusion: In patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy with level III dissection, and postoperative irradiation, the incidence of unilateral arm lymphedema is significantly influenced by several clinicopathological factors like the total number of lymph nodes removed in level III, higher maximal drain output, prolonged duration of drain placement and the presence of lymphovascular invasion