Intracystic papillary carcinoma of breast: report of three cases and review of the literature.

Intracystic papillary carcinoma (IPC) of the breast is a rare malignant tumour, found mainly but not exclusively in elderly women. IPC may be asymptomatic or presents with a palpable mass or blood-stained nipple discharge. The tumour is encysted within a dilated duct with arborisation of the fibrovascular stroma and contains nodules of papillary carcinoma surrounded by a thick fibrous capsule. Frequently excisional biopsy is required for diagnosis. The mainstay of treatment is breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy. Sentinel node biopsy could be considered in invasive cases. Adjuvant radiotherapy (XRT) and/or endocrine therapy is considered in appropriate cases. Prognosis is excellent. We report three such cases of IPC, in elderly women, which were successfully treated.