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Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the most common special type of invasive breast cancer (IBC), accounting for 5-15% of IBCs. The distinct histomorphology of ILC reflects a special tumor biology, the hallmark of which is the lack of E-cadherin expression. However, the occasional presence of E-cadherin expression and the presence of IBC of no special type (IBC, NST)-like morphologies in ILC and vice versa make the diagnosis challenging. We present two cases of the alveolar variant of ILC, a diagnostically challenging entity. The first case is an 81-year-old female with two discrete right breast masses at 1 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions. The second case is a 61-year-old female with two discrete left breast masses located at 11 o'clock and 12 o'clock positions. Core needle biopsies and subsequent mastectomy were performed in both cases. On histology, three tumor foci were identified in the first case. The 1 o'clock focus showed IBC, NST, grade 3/3, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS). The 9 o'clock focus revealed ILC, classic and alveolar variants, grade 2/3, while a nearby third incidental focus was ILC, alveolar variant, both supported by lack of E-cadherin and β-catenin immunostaining. The second case showed ILC, alveolar variant, grade 1 with LCIS component in the 11 o'clock lesion on both biopsy and mastectomy specimens. The lesion at the 12 o'clock position was diagnosed as IBC, NST, grade 2 with high-grade DCIS and LCIS components. It is challenging to distinguish the alveolar variant of ILC from IBC, NST, and in situ lesions because of the overlapping morphology and occasional E-cadherin expression. Altered adherence of lobular cells may also be due to loss of α-, β-, and γ-catenins, and cytoplasmic re-localization of p120-catenin. Therefore, in ILC, the lack of β-catenin can be used as an adjunct along with E-cadherin. Myoepithelial markers such as p63 and smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SMMHC) can be used to distinguish the alveolar variant of ILC from LCIS.
Kolawole et al. (Fri,) studied this question.