Localized amyloidosis of the breast: a case series

Abstract

We report on the clinical presentation and histopathology of a series of seven patients with localized amyloidosis of the breast. These patients were diagnosed by biopsy performed to rule out malignancy because of calcifications seen by mammography, and represented 0.5% of patients referred to the Amyloid Treatment and Research Program at Boston University Medical Campus in an 18-year period. The patients ranged in age from 35 to 75, median 63 years. None of these seven patients had evidence of a systemic plasma cell dyscrasia or amyloidosis in other organs, nor did systemic disease develop with a median follow-up of 6 years. Thus, other than excisional biopsy to exclude malignancy, no systemic therapy is indicated for this disorder.

Keywords:

• Localized amyloidosis
• breast

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge their colleagues in the Amyloid Treatment and Research Program and Solomont Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center who assisted with the multidisciplinary evaluation and treatment of the patients with AL amyloidosis. They also acknowledge the excellent technical support of Pamela SooHoo for the Congo red staining and immunohistochemical studies.

Declaration of interest:

This work was supported in part by the Amyloid Research Fund at Boston University School of Medicine and made use of a patient database established with support of the Gerry Foundation and a grant from NHLBI, P01 HL68705.