Secretory carcinoma of the breast in adults. Light and electron microscopic study of three cases with review of the literature.

Three adult cases of secretory carcinoma of the breast were studied by both light and electron microscopy. Histologically the tumors revealed three patterns, namely, solid, microcystic and ductal. Ultrastructurally the tumor cells contained large numbers of membrane-bound intracytoplasmic secretory vacuoles. In addition, numerous intracytoplasmic as well as intercellular lumina containing abundant secretory material were noted. Secretory carcinoma in adults is rare with only twenty cases reported previously in the literature. It is known to have a better prognosis than the usual ductal carcinoma. The most appropriate treatment appears to be an extended simple mastectomy.