Benign Adenomyoepithelioma of the Breast: A Case Report and Review of Imaging Features.

Adenomyoepithelioma (AME) of the breast is a rare tumor that can be benign or malignant and has varied morphological features. We report a case of a 62-year-old female with a history of right breast cancer who presented with abnormal screening mammography. The detection, presentation, and varied imaging characteristics of AMEs are discussed. The nonspecific imaging and histologic appearance of AME are highlighted, emphasizing the need for representative biopsy samples and histopathological review for diagnosis. Our case underlines the importance of wide surgical excision with negative margins in the presence of diagnostic uncertainty, which corresponds with the current recommended treatment for AME to prevent recurrence.

Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans Presenting as a Primary Breast Mass.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is an atypical soft tissue malignancy that affects the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. The cause of DFSP is not clearly understood. This report highlights a rare case of DFSP of the left breast. We report a case of an 18-year-old female with past medical history of type 1 diabetes mellitus, who presented to the breast imaging clinic with a six-month history of left breast lump and associated skin discoloration. The patient had a dedicated left breast ultrasound which showed an indistinct, oval, hyperechoic mass in the superficial breast, measuring 1.4 x 1.0 x 2.5 cm with mild internal vascularity. An ultrasound-guided biopsy of this left breast mass was recommended and performed approximately three weeks later, demonstrating DFSP. The patient was then advised for consultation with Oncology, Surgical Oncology, and Radiation Oncology, to which surgical excision was the final recommendation. The patient had a wide local surgical excision procedure for her left breast mass with surgical pathology confirming negative margins shortly thereafter. This case highlights a great index of suspicion that should be taken when evaluating palpable breast masses with associated skin discoloration in young patients.

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia presenting as bilateral breast masses.

An 8-year-old girl presented with bilateral breast masses and was subsequently diagnosed with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia. Juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia is a rare myelodysplastic syndrome that typically presents in boys younger than 3 years of age with splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy and skin findings. Bilateral breast masses in a child are rare and, as such, present a diagnostic dilemma due to the relative paucity of cases in the literature. We present a case of granulocytic sarcoma of the breasts in a patient with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia. The authors hope that increased reporting and research regarding pediatric breast masses will help create awareness for such cases.

Rice Body Formation Within a Peri-Articular Shoulder Mass.

Most commonly associated with chronic inflammatory conditions, rice bodies represent an uncommon, nonspecific, often intra-articular inflammatory process. Presumably, rice bodies represent the sequelae of microvascular infarcts of the joint synovium. However, rice bodies have been seen in pleural fluid, in the setting of bursitis, and within the tendon sheath. The etiology and prognostic significance of rice bodies are not clear. MRI is the diagnostic imaging modality of choice for the evaluation of rice body formation. Here we present a case of a 28-year-old female with a history of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who presented to her primary care physician with a palpable mass around her right shoulder which was presumed to be a lipoma. An initial ultrasound showed a fluid filled structure with internal debris. Subsequent MRI evaluation was confirmatory for subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis with rice body formation. The salient point of this report is to highlight the importance of patient-specific differential diagnosis. While lipomas are a very common benign soft tissue tumor, patients with RA often have disease-specific sequelae that should be included in the diagnostic deliberation. Thus, when ordering diagnostic testing for patients with a palpable mass and rheumatoid arthritis, MRI--possibly preceded by conventional radiography--is the most appropriate diagnostic algorithm.

Breast Implant-Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Introduction Anaplastic large cell lymphoma is a very rare T-cell lymphoma that has only recently been found to be associated with breast implants. It has been described in the literature mainly in the form of case reports. This article focuses on the imaging characteristics of this rare disease. We hope to increase awareness of breast imagers and referring physicians to improve early detection rates. Case Report We present the case of a 32-year-old female who presented with several weeks of pain and firmness in her right breast. MRI and ultrasound demonstrated a peri-implant fluid collection. Ultrasound-guided aspiration revealed anaplastic large cell lymphoma. The patient was treated with implant removal alone and has now been in remission for 3 years.  Conclusion Anaplastic large cell lymphoma of the breast is a very rare entity that has mainly been described in the literature as case reports. As in the case of our patient, imaging findings can be very non-specific, and it is important for surgeons, breast imagers, and oncologists to be aware of this rare disease to ensure prompt diagnosis.

Effect of thrombopoietin receptor agonists on the apoptotic profile of platelets in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia.

Platelet survival depends upon mediators of apoptosis e.g., Bcl-xL, Bax, and Bak, which are regulated by thrombopoietin (TPO)-mediated AKT signaling. Thrombopoietin receptor (TPO-R) signaling might decrease platelet and/or megakaryocyte apoptosis and increase the platelet count. This study therefore explored anti-apoptotic effects of TPO-R-agonists in vivo on platelets of patients with immune thrombocytopenia. Patients received eltrombopag or romiplostim for two weeks. Total, immature, and large platelet counts were assessed as were Bcl-xL inhibitor assay; Bcl-xL Western blot; and flow cytometric (FACS) analysis of the AKT-signaling pathway. Eight/ten patients had platelet responses to eltrombopag and all three to romiplostim. Platelet sensitivity to apoptosis by Bcl-xL inhibition was greater in pretreatment patients than controls. This sensitivity normalized after one week of therapy, but surprisingly returned to pretreatment levels at week two. FACS analysis revealed increased AKT-pathway signaling after one week, followed by a decrease at week two. Platelet counts correlated with the Bcl-xL /Bak ratio. Platelet survival may be enhanced by TPO-R-agonists as a transient decrease in platelet sensitivity to apoptosis was accompanied by transient activation of AKT. However, this mechanism has only a short-lived effect. Megakaryocytes and platelets already present at the start of TPO-R-agonist treatment appear to respond differently than those generated de novo.