Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Tubular Carcinoma of the Breast

Gupta, Raj K.; Dowle, Carl S.

doi:10.1159/000332800

Cited by 14 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…The diagnosis of tubular carcinoma by FNA cytology is generally difficult (Fig. ) . The identification of rigid tubular structures should raise the diagnostic possibility of tubular carcinoma.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inconclusive or erroneous fine‐needle aspirates of breast with adequate and representative material: A cytologic/histologic study

Shabb

Boulos

Chakhachiro

et al. 2013

Diagnostic Cytopathology

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Adequately cellular and representative fine-needle aspirates (FNAs) of breast have a high diagnostic accuracy. There is, however, a recognized category designated as "gray zone" where a definitive diagnosis cannot be reached. We reviewed our experience in this category to identify useful diagnostic parameters. Twenty-four such FNAs with surgical follow-up were retrieved from AUBMC files (2003-2009). Cytology slides were reviewed blindly. All cases were females, 29-73 years. There were three erroneous and 21 inconclusive diagnoses. The majority (15) was invasive adenocarcinomas: two cribriform, four tubular, one lobular, and eight not otherwise specified. The remaining cases were papillary and fibroepithelial tumors (three each), ductal carcinoma in situ, cribriform (two), and one adenomyoepithelioma (AME). Useful diagnostic features included: (1) Biphasic cell population with focal nuclear atypia and intranuclear and cytoplasmic vacuolar inclusions (AME). (2) Complex clusters of epithelial cells with cribriform architecture (cribriform carcinoma). (3) Rigid tubular epithelial structures with abrupt change in diameter, ending in pointed tips with abnormal branching (tubular carcinoma). (4) Cellular stromal fragments (fibroepithelial tumors). (5) Papillary fibrovascular cores, columnar cells, and three-dimensional papillary epithelial fragments (papillary tumors). Myoepithelial cells classically described in benign aspirates were not always a discriminatory factor. The "gray zone" in breast FNA is usually due to overlapping cytologic features of some benign and malignant lesions. Useful distinguishing cytologic features are described.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inconclusive or erroneous fine‐needle aspirates of breast with adequate and representative material: A cytologic/histologic study

Shabb

Boulos

Chakhachiro

et al. 2013

Diagnostic Cytopathology

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“…Tubular carcinoma can be misinterpreted as benign because of the lack of cellular atypia and epithelial dissociation and presence of myoepithelial cells on the cytologic specimen. 6,7 Although these overlapping features of sclerosing adenosis with this tumor can create diagnostic confusion, the epithelial sheets with variable appearance, especially acinar sheets; frequent hyalinized stroma; and absence of angular sheets enabled a differentiation from tubular carcinoma. Frequent acinar sheets and scattered, discohesive epithelial cells observed in cytologic smears of sclerosing adenosis may cause diagnostic confusion with lobular carcinoma.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Sclerosing Adenosis of the Breast

Cho

Oh²

2001

Acta Cytologica

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“…TCs are more frequently hypercellular and the abnormal tubules are more abundant and diffuse and have a more rigid outline or acutely angled configuration. Discohesive cells are also more abundant [82,83,84,85,86]. Single cells with intact cytoplasm could mimic lobular carcinoma.…”

Section: Proliferative Breast Lesionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The diagnosis of TC by FNAC is difficult with less than 50% of cases classified as C5 [82,83,84,85,86]. The characteristic findings include tubular structures, noteworthy dissociation, paucity of myoepithelium and cellular atypia [86].…”

Section: Mammary Carcinoma and Its Variantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indeterminate and Erroneous Fine-Needle Aspirates of Breast with Focus on the ‘True Gray Zone': A Review

2013

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Objective: To review our experience and the literature on inconclusive/erroneous fine-needle aspirates (FNAs) of breast with the focus on the ‘true gray zone'. To describe the cytology, differential diagnosis, pitfalls and limitations of common and rare lesions. Study Design: We conducted a literature search focusing on breast FNAs with statistical data of C3 and C4 categories including false-positive and false-negative cases. Similar data from 2003 to 2009 was obtained from our institution. Results: C3 and C4 categories account for 3-17% of breast FNAs. Contributing factors are technical difficulties, inexperienced pathologists interpreting FNAs of breast and overlap of cytologic features of certain benign and malignant conditions; this last, ‘true gray zone' accounts for 2% of cases. Fibroadenoma, proliferative breast lesions, gynecomastia, infiltrating and in situ low-grade adenocarcinomas and tubular, cribriform, lobular and mucinous carcinomas are the most common problematic lesions. Granular cell tumor, adenomyoepithelioma, pregnancy-related lesions, fat necrosis, inflammatory and radiation changes, adenoid cystic carcinoma, spindle-cell lesions and Phyllodes tumor are less common. Conclusion: Inconclusive/erroneous FNAs of breast due to the ‘true gray zone' are rare. Most are due to the overlapping cytologic features of some benign and malignant conditions. Practical features that may help arrive at the correct diagnoses are elucidated.

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Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Tubular Carcinoma of the Breast

Cited by 14 publications

References 7 publications

Inconclusive or erroneous fine‐needle aspirates of breast with adequate and representative material: A cytologic/histologic study

Inconclusive or erroneous fine‐needle aspirates of breast with adequate and representative material: A cytologic/histologic study

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Sclerosing Adenosis of the Breast

Indeterminate and Erroneous Fine-Needle Aspirates of Breast with Focus on the ‘True Gray Zone': A Review

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