Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Invasive Micropapillary Carcinoma of the Breast: Report of four Cases.
- Author:
Sun Young KWON
1
;
Hae Ra JUNG
;
Yu Na KANG
;
Sang Pyo KIM
;
Kun Young KWON
;
Sang Sook LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Pathology, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea. pathol72@dsmc.or.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Breast;
Invasive micropapillary carcinoma;
Fine needle aspiration cytology
- MeSH:
Biopsy, Fine-Needle*;
Breast*;
Carcinoma, Ductal;
Diagnosis;
Epithelial Cells;
Humans;
Lymph Nodes;
Neoplasm Metastasis
- From:Korean Journal of Cytopathology
2004;15(2):106-111
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPCa) is a rare variant of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. This variant is associated with a set of peculiar cytological findings and aggressive biological behaviors. In most reported cases, IMPCa has involved massive axillary lymph node metastases at the time of diagnosis. We experienced four cases of cytological features of IMPCa, all of which were verified by histological examination. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) revealed malignant epithelial cells, which formed small, oval to angulated papillary clusters, which lacked central fibrovascular cores. The histological findings of the four cases revealed both pure and mixed forms of IMPCa, composed of cohesive malignant epithelial cells, surrounded by distinctive clear spaces and separated by thin fibrous septa. All patients evidenced axillary lymph node metastases at the time of diagnosis. It is important to identify the peculiar cytological findings which would differentiate IMPCa from other diseases.
