Dedifferentiation in adenoid cystic carcinoma
of the breast – an unexpected intraoperative finding
and a diagnostic challenge

Selcuk Cin; Ezgi Duman; Merve Cin

doi:10.5114/pjp.2025.158973

eISSN: 2084-9869
ISSN: 1233-9687

Polish Journal of Pathology

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abstract:

Case report

Dedifferentiation in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast – an unexpected intraoperative finding and a diagnostic challenge

Selcuk Cin

¹

,

Ezgi Duman

²

,

Merve Cin

³

Department of Pathology, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
Department of Pathology, University of Health Sciences, Bagcılar Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Department of Pathology, University of Health Sciences, Istanbul Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

Pol J Pathol 2025; 76 (4)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/pjp.2025.158973

Online publish date: 2026/02/02

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Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast with high-grade transformation (dedifferentiation) is an extremely rare entity in the literature. Due to its potential to cause significant diagnostic challenges, recognition of this variant is clinically important. We report the case of a 58-year-old woman presenting with a 7  6 cm retroareolar breast mass. Core biopsy revealed features consistent with classic ACC; however, intraoperative frozen section of a sentinel lymph node demonstrated poorly differentiated carcinoma, showing no resemblance to the initial biopsy. This rare case is presented to contribute to the literature and raise awareness of this unusual phenomenon in breast tumors.

keywords:

Dedifferentiation in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast – an unexpected intraoperative finding and a diagnostic challenge

Selcuk Cin 1 , Ezgi Duman 2 , Merve Cin 3

adenoid cystic carcinoma, breast, dedifferentiation

Selcuk Cin

¹

,

Ezgi Duman

²

,

Merve Cin

³