1996 Volume 35 Issue 2 Pages 156-160
The cytopathological findings of mammary low papillary carcinoma in a 46-year-old premenopausal woman are described. The first fine-needle aspiration biopsy cytology (FNABC) specimen showed a few cohesive sheet-like clusters of ductal cells surrounded by abundant mucus material. Almost all monolayered clusters showed minimal nuclear atypia. Although the cell clusters in the second FNABC specimen appeared monolayered, slightly more pronounced nuclear atypia was observed. Monolayered clusters and mucus materials which were observed in these FNABC series required differential diagnosis of low papillary carcinoma from the mucocele-like tumor reported by Rosen in 1986. simple mastectomy was performed. Histological examination confirmed low papillary carcinoma of the breast. The cytologic diagnosis of low papillary carcinoma is difficult when few clusters can be observed and the clusters appear monolayered. Therefore, to make the cytologic diagnosis of low papillary carcinoma, careful evaluation of nuclear atypia is essential.
