ADENOSQUAMOUS DIFFERENTIATION IN MAMMARY-CARCINOMA - ULTRASTRUCTURAL AND STEROID-RECEPTOR STUDY

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 104  (3) , 130-133
Abstract
Five [human] breast carcinomas with only squamous morphology by light microscopy demonstrated ultrastructural features of squamous and adenomatous differentiation within the same individual cells. Of the 5 cases, 2 demonstrated quantitatively low levels of saturable estrogen- and/or progesterone-binding proteins. In no case were there quantitative or qualitative patterns of receptors indicative of clinical hormonal response potential. Primary squamous cell carcinomas of the breast should be examined ultrastructurally for adenosquamous differentiation, as each of the 5 apparent squamous carcinomas observed in a prospective study of 1760 (0.3%) cases of breast cancer demonstrated adenosquamous differentiation ultrastructurally.