A clinicocytological study of tubular carcinoma of the breast

Abstract

Objective : We clarified the cytological features of tubular carcinoma (TC), a rare form of breast tumor.
Study Design : We clinicocytopathologically examined 15 cases of TC.
Results : TC was clinically low-grade, with a favorable prognosis. Cytological TC specimens were typified by (1) a cell-rich smear, (2) inconspicuous myoepithelium, (3) inconspicuous nucleoli, and (4) tubular and acinar structures. TC should be suspected when the aspiration cytology specimen from a breast tumor has these features.
Conclusions : TC has a good prognosis, and tumor histology is best determined based on cytological features.