Case Report
Year: 2023 | Month: February | Volume: 10 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 260-265
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20230232
Autopsy Pathology of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma of the Breast: A Case Report
Offiah, A.U.1, Amadi, A.N.2, Azuamah, Y.C.3, Igwe, F.E.1, Onyesom, E.1
1College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Abia State University, Nigeria
2Department of Public Health, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
3Department of Optometry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
Corresponding Author: Offiah, A.U.
ABSTRACT
The cause of death can be determined by performing an autopsy. This study reviewed the autopsy pathology performed on a 54 year old woman who died of invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast. The autopsy was performed at Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, Nigeria. She presented with fever and generalized body weakness of one week duration and was being treated for malaria and typhoid fever. Her condition deteriorated in two days of hospitalization despite the treatment given and she later passed away. Autopsy findings revealed that the breasts were symmetrical and the overlying skin was grossly normal. There was no area of ulceration or change in the skin. The nipples were not retracted. Cut sections of both breasts showed diffuse white fibrous tissue in areas and no obvious lymphadenopathy was noted. Histologic sections of the breast tissue showed uniform small bland cells with round nuclei and inconspicuous nucleoli invading a fibrotic fibrocollagenous stroma and adipocytes in single files. There was poor attempt at tubule formation. Histological section of the lungs showed infiltration by malignant epithelial cells similar to ones seen in the breast. There were haemorrhages, congestion and edema in the alveolar interstitium, and some of the alveolar were filled with fibrinous material. Also seen were numerous mixed inflammatory cell infiltrates. The final diagnosis was invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast, with widespread metastasis to the lungs, pleural and peritoneum. The cause of death was ruled as invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast. A thorough autopsy of deaths of women of postmenopausal age was recommended in other to identify associated pathologies.
Keywords: Breast cancer, Invasive lobular carcinoma, Invasive ductal carcinoma, Autopsy
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