Korean Journal of Cytopathology  1996;7(2):202-206

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytologic Findings of Metaplastic Carcinoma of the Breast: A Case Report.

Soo Kee MIN 1 ; Hee Jeung CHA ; Joon Mee KIM ; Young Chae CHU

Affiliations

+expand

Keywords

Aspiration cytology; Breast; Metaplastic carcinoma; Carcinosarcoma

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast is a morphologically heterogenous group of neoplasms characterized by ductal adenocarcinoma with extensive squamous differentiation, a spindle-cell pattern of growth, and/or heterologous mesenchymal elements. We experienced a case of metaplastic carcinoma diagnosed by fine needle aspiration(FNA) and confirmed by radical mastectomy in a 46 year-old woman. The FNA cytologic findings included atypical squamous cells with kertinization lying singly and in clusters in a necrotic background. In addition, scattered spindle cells with pleomorphic large nuclei and prominent nucleoli were present in a hemorrhagic and necrotic background. The histopathologic findings showed moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and highly pleomorphic sarcoma with chondroid component. The immunohistochemical stain revealed focal positive reaction for cytokeratin as well as diffuse reactivity for vimentin in the sarcomatous area.