PRIMARY SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE BREAST

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast is a rare cancer, Publis hed reports of prognosis are variable, and most studies are case repor ts of one or a few patients. We report an additional case of squamous cell carcinoma of the breast occurring in a 53-year-old black woman, I n reviewing the reported cases of this tumor over the past 20 years, w e compared features of this cancer with those of the more common breas t adenocarcinoma with squamous metaplasia, When squamous cell carcinom a of the breast is encountered, a skin primary lesion and metastasis f rom a distant site should be excluded. Prognosis is determined largely by stage and does not differ significantly from the prognosis in brea st adenocarcinoma with squamous metaplasia.