Squamous cell carcinoma of the breast

Squamous carcinoma of the breast (SCB) is a rare entity. For its diagnosis, the exclusion of squamous cell carcinoma of local cutaneous structures and metastasis of distant squamous carcinoma are mandatory. The aim was to retrospectively evaluate the prevalence, epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the cases of SCB, studied in our institution, between January 1985 and December 1996. The diagnosis was histopathological. We studied the patients' demographic data and tumour characteristics. In the Ii-year study period, 5791 patients with breast carcinoma were admitted to our Institution, seven (0.1%) of which were SCB. All seven patients were female and Caucasian. Their average age was 63 years (range 24-82). The presentation was always a breast lump. Five patients were in Stage II-A and two in Stage II-B. All tumours were hormone-receptor negative. The initial treatment was surgery and four patients received adjuvant radiotherapy. The median follow-up was 64 months. No relapses were diagnosed. SCB is a rare entity. The initial therapeutic approach should be surgical. There is still no consensus regarding adjuvant therapy. The prognosis of this type of breast cancer is still the subject of controversy with some series, including the present study, suggesting an indolent clinical course and a relatively good prognosis. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.