A Follow-Up Case of Breast Carcinoma with the Unusual Visitor in Peripheral Blood: Unlock Feathered Edge Secret Breast Carcinoma with Unusual Visitor in PBS

Anurag Singh (1), Rashmi Kushwaha (2), Uma Shankar Singh (3), Shailendra Prasad Verma (4)
(1) Department of Pathology, King George Medical University Lucknow, India , India,
(2) Department of Pathology, King George Medical University, Lucknow, India, India,
(3) Professor, Department of Pathology, King George Medical University Lucknow, India,
(4) Department of Clinical Hematology, King George Medical University, Lucknow, India , India

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Vol. 11 No. 3 (2024): In-Press for Volume 11, Number 3,August 2024
Keywords:
    Breast cance, Carcinocythemia, Bone marrow
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Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide and in India. There are very few cases of breast cancer with peripheral blood dissemination having acute leukaemia-like blast cells.


Case presentation: Here we present a  44-year-old breast cancer follow-up patient with the presence of leukaemia-like blast cells in peripheral blood. The specific cytochemical staining and immunophenotyping assays on bone marrow biopsy revealed that atypical cells in her peripheral blood were from breast cancer metastasis. A comprehensive workup confirmed carcinocythemia in the present case and systemic chemotherapy and hormonal therapy were planned. However, she died 15 days after the carcinocythemia presentation. Carcinocythemia patients have a poor survival.


Conclusion: Because carcinocythemia cells can mimic leukemic blasts and share morphological features, the patient's medical history and a careful analysis of the feathery border of the smear are needed to make a definitive diagnosis.

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Authors

Anurag Singh
Department of Pathology, King George Medical University Lucknow, India
Rashmi Kushwaha
Department of Pathology, King George Medical University, Lucknow, India
docrashmi27@yahoo.co.in (Primary Contact)
Uma Shankar Singh
Professor, Department of Pathology, King George Medical University Lucknow
Shailendra Prasad Verma
Department of Clinical Hematology, King George Medical University, Lucknow, India
1.
Singh A, Kushwaha R, Singh US, Verma SP. A Follow-Up Case of Breast Carcinoma with the Unusual Visitor in Peripheral Blood: Unlock Feathered Edge Secret: Breast Carcinoma with Unusual Visitor in PBS. Arch Breast Cancer [Internet]. [cited 2024 Jul. 16];11(3). Available from: https://archbreastcancer.com/index.php/abc/article/view/939
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