Case report reveals challenges in diagnosing and treating metaplastic breast cancer with aggressive symptoms.
Metaplastic breast cancer (MBC) is a rare and aggressive breast neoplasm, accounting for less than 1% of all breast cancer diagnoses. We report the case of a 74-year-old female who presented with a rapidly enlarging breast mass causing a worsening, non-healing wound. A biopsy was consistent with metaplastic breast cancer, and the patient underwent upfront surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Unfortunately, after three rounds of chemotherapy, she passed away at home without a clear etiology. Histopathologic diagnosis can be challenging due to the variety of cell types and associated metaplasia involved. This case demonstrates a dramatic presentation of metaplastic breast cancer and the challenges associated with diagnosing and treating this rare disease.
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Flynn et al. (2026) studied this question.
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