Papillary carcinoma
Papillary carcinoma Pure papillary carcinoma is rare in breast, although a papillary component may be present in up to 3-4% of breast carcinomas. It typically occurs in postmenopausal women. FNA smears show three-dimensional papillary groupings of cells, some with fibro-vascular cores, with scattered columnar tumour cells and a bloody diathesis with haemosiderin-laden macrophages in the […]
Adenoid cystic carcinoma
Adenoid cystic carcinoma Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare type of breast carcinoma, usually associated with an excellent prognosis and generally not resulting in lymph node metastases. Its cytological features are identical to the ones of its more common salivary gland counterpart. The smears consist of nests of small uniform, basaloid cells that are intimately […]
Invasive Lobular carcinoma
Invasive lobular carcinoma accounts for 5-10% of invasive breast carcinomas. This tumour is often bilateral and multicentric. Histologically, lobular carcinoma consists of infiltrating, small uniform cells with eccentrically placed, mildly hyperchromatic round nuclei and high N/C ratio. The cells can align themselves in a linear pattern or have a targetoid arrangement around ducts. Because of […]
Tubular carcinoma
Tubular carcinoma Tubular carcinoma is a type of breast carcinoma which is usually small in size and is characterized by an excellent prognosis. Histology shows infiltrating, angular to comma-shaped tubular structures consisting of relatively small, uniform cells with round, bland, low-grade nuclei, usually with a prominently desmoplastic stroma. Cytological diagnostic features Mild to moderate cellularity […]
Other rare variants of Breast Carcinoma
Other rare variants of Breast Carcinoma Apocrine carcinoma Apocrine carcinoma is a morphologic variant of ductal carcinoma. FNA smears contain numerous epithelial cells arranged in syncytial fragments along with individually scattered cells. The cells show apocrine features, consisting of abundant basophilic to eosinophilic granular cytoplasm and large nuclei with prominent nucleoli. It can be difficult […]
Phyllodes tumour
Phyllodes tumour Phyllodes tumour is a rare biphasic epithelial and stromal neoplasm of the breast. Most patients are in their fourth or fifth decade of life. The biological behaviour of these tumours is unpredictable, although tumour size, mitotic activity and stromal atypia are histological guidelines for assessing the biological potential. The malignant cases resemble and […]
Radiation change
Radiation change FNA cytology of irradiated breast tissue can be a diagnostic challenge. Histological changes include epithelial atypia in the terminal duct-lobular units and in larger ducts. Therefore, having knowledge of prior irradiation therapy is crucial to avoid a false-positive diagnosis of malignancy. FNA smears show atypical cells with nuclear and cytoplasmic enlargement and degenerative […]
Benign lesions
Benign lesions Breast cysts Mastitis Subareolar abscess Fat necrosis Fibrocystic change Fibroadenoma Papilloma Pregnancy and lactational changes Gynecomastia Radiation change
Breast carcinoma
Breast carcinoma Invasive ductal carcinoma, Not Otherwise Specified (NOS) Invasive Lobular carcinoma Intraductal carcinoma (DCIS) Medullary carcinoma Mucinous (colloid) carcinoma Tubular carcinoma Adenoid cystic carcinoma Papillary carcinoma Other rare variants of breast carcinoma
Cysts
Cysts The most common lesions of the breast are solitary and multiple cysts. Aspiration of the cysts is an excellent procedure for both diagnosis and treatment. Following aspiration of the cyst, it is important to palpate the area again to determine whether a residual mass is present, and if so, additional aspirations of the residual […]