Two Cases of Mistaken Identity: Neuroendocrine Tumors for Primary or Metastatic Breast Cancer

There are similarities between neuroendocrine tumors (NET) and primary breast cancers. A misdiagnosis can significantly affect prognosis and patient treatment plans, leading to potential catastrophic effects on patient care. In this study, we look at two cases in which NET was misdiagnosed as a primary breast cancer, in the breast in one case, and as metastatic breast cancer in the liver in the other case. The goals of this study were to highlight the pathological overlap between primary breast cancer with NET features and neuroendocrine tumors and the differences between their radiological appearances and to suggest steps to prevent this misdiagnosis from occurring, highlighting both the utility of informed clinical suspicion and timed imaging and pathology reviews.