Adenosis tumor of the breast: Cytological and radiological features of a case confirmed by histology

Abstract

We report the case of a 63-year-old woman who presented with a right breast lump detected by screening mammography. The lesion was nonpalpable, and the ultrasonography revealed suspicious features. In contrast with imaging features, fine-needle aspiration cytology showed benign ductal cells arranged in groups, with fragments of hyalinized eosinophilic stroma, and round or bipolar bare nuclei in the background, findings consistent with a benign tumor. A core needle biopsy performed to rule out a breast cancer revealed an adenosis tumor of the breast.

Cytological diagnosis of sclerosing adenosis of breast: Diagnostic challenges and literature review

“…TA is a rare benign tumour and presents as an unencapsulated circumscribed mass. Cytological features of TA are similar to SA including moderate to highly cellular smears with a bimodal cell population of epithelial cells arranged in small groups, and acinar or tubular structures along with scattered bipolar cells, but the presence of hyalinised stroma in close approximation to epithelial cells as seen in our case favours a diagnosis of nodular SA 6,7 …”

“…Cytological features of TA are similar to SA including moderate to highly cellular smears with a bimodal cell population of epithelial cells arranged in small groups, and acinar or tubular structures along with scattered bipolar cells, but the presence of hyalinised stroma in close approximation to epithelial cells as seen in our case favours a diagnosis of nodular SA. 6,7 Microglandular adenosis is rare and may also produce a palpable mass lesion in the breast. It may show clusters of benign epithelial cells forming small tubular or acinar structures similar to SA.…”

Nodular sclerosing adenosis of breast: A diagnostic pitfall in fine needle aspiration cytology

“…FNAC of sclerosing adenosis may be difficult to distinguish from benign lesions like fibroadenoma, adenomyoepithelioma and proliferative breast diseases. [11] Distinction from fibroadenoma is not difficult as sclerosing adenosis has more abundant cellularity, acinar arrangement, single epithelial cells and hyalinized stroma. Fibroadenomas, in comparison, display more of a branching pattern of larger epithelial sheets, bipolar/oval, naked nuclei, and large, hypocellular, fibromyxoid stroma.…”

Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology of Sclerosing Adenosis of the Breast

“…To date, little has been published about the cytologic features of SA, most of which has been in the form of case reports or small series. [11][12][13] Cytologic features of SA on smears have been described as highly cellular, with sheets or groups of uniform, bland epithelial cells, some of which had a fingerlike branching pattern, numerous bipolar bare nuclei in the background, and hyalinized stromal fragments. Overall, the benign nature of the lesions seemed readily appreciated on FNA samples.…”

“…Overall, the benign nature of the lesions seemed readily appreciated on FNA samples. [11][12][13] However, these studies did not specify the proportion of SA component present in the surgical specimens examined. In view of the fact that SA is often associated with other benign breast lesions, such as fibrocystic change or ductal hyperplasia, 7 some of the features described might represent those of coexisting non-SA benign lesions.…”