Squamous cell carcinoma with apocrine features of the breast: A case report.

A rare case of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with apocrine features was investigated; the focus was on the histological characteristics of the cancer cells in a 68-year-old female exhibiting an ulcerated lesion of the right breast. Diagnostic imaging methods identified a lobulated solid tumor and indicated multiple enlarged lymph nodes in the left axilla, which confirmed the diagnosis of advanced breast cancer; thus, a mastectomy was performed. Macroscopic investigations identified the tumor as a white, solid lesion measuring 66 × 68 × 47 mm, which exhibited necrosis. Histologically, the tumor was predominantly solid and exhibited nest patterns, in addition to intracellular keratinization. Immunohistochemical staining identified the tumor cells as positive for cytokeratin 5/6, 34ßE12 and P63. The lesion was considered to be an SCC demonstrating negative expression for the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor; therefore, the tumor was a triple-negative breast cancer. Conversely, approximately one-third of the tumor cells indicated abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and gross cystic disease fluid, which was demonstrated via protein-15 staining; this indicated the presence of apocrine features. In addition, the androgen receptor was expressed in the tumor cells, thus the lesion was diagnosed as an SCC of the breast, exhibiting apocrine features.

[From the position of a private sector hospital: ISO 15189 acquisition by a clinical laboratory, and quality management system deployment in the whole hospital].

St. Mary's Hospital Medical Inspecting Center acquired ISO 15189 authorization in December, 2007. In the process of authorization acquisition, measures were taken to improve various quality issues, and a marked effect was seen in patient services and medical safety control. Furthermore, we tried to improve ward nursing management using ISO, drew up standard operating procedures through detailed job analysis, and enabled ward operation standardization. In this paper, while describing the effect of ISO 15189 on clinical examinations, we refer to the significance of improving quality of hospital management which our clinical laboratory lead to.