NODULAR MUCINOSIS OF THE BREAST - REPORT OF 3 CASES

Three cases of nodular mucinosis of the breast are presented. They occ urred in one male and two female patients. The patients had no signs o f Carney's syndrome. All lesions were located under the nipple. They w ere poorly circumscribed and unencapsulated. They were soft and had a gelatinous consistency and white color. No patient had any evidence of recurrence or metastasis 6 months, 3 years and 6 years, respectively, after the surgical excision. The mucinous tissue consisted of acid mu copolysaccharides, which stained Alcian blue, Hale's colloidal iron po sitively, and they were periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) negative. Mucicarmi ne reaction was only faintly positive. The lesion should be distinguis hed particularly from mucocele-like lesions of the breast by the locat ion, nodular arrangement, absence of accompanying ductal hyperplasia a nd staining properties of the mucous substances.