Tumor-like bilateral amyloidosis of the breast associated with breast cancer and Sjogren's syndrome. A case report

A 60-year-old woman with metastatic lobular carcinoma of the left breast an d Sjogren's syndrome developed a tumor of the right breast. Histology showe d an amyloid tumor. Further studies showed tumor-like amyloidosis of the le ft breast in apposition to the carcinoma. Immunoelectrophoresis showed IgG gammopathy. There was no Bence-jones protein in the urine. The presence of amyloid was confirmed with congo red staining and electron microscopy. Syst emic amyloidosis, which often arises from monoclonal B-cell dysplasia (e.g. , multiple myeloma) or rheumatoid arthritis, can cause diffuse, focal, or t umor-like deposits in the breast. Amyloid tumors, whose etiology is unclear , are rare in the breast and usually mistaken for carcinomas. We found no a ssociation between Sjogren's syndrome and amyloidosis or between breast can cer and amyloid tumors. A localized amyloid tumor does not need to be excis ed and should be distinguished from systemic amyloidosis, which requires tr eatment.