Intracystic Papillary Carcinoma: A Case Report

Intracystic papillary carcinoma (IPC) of the breast is a rare form of in-situ carcinoma, which is contained within a dilated duct. Mammography and ultrasound may provide clues to its presence, but formal diagnosis always requires histologic evidence. Although IPC is associated with an excellent prognosis, surgical resection is important in order to rule out the possibility of any invasive component, which would result in the need for more aggressive treatment. In this paper, we review the radiographic and histologic features of this interesting diagnosis, present a patient case, and explore the possible reason why IPC does not require the same treatment modalities as the more common ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS).