Spindle cell carcinoma-a case report

Abstract

Background: Spindle cell carcinoma of the breast is a rare neoplasm.
Case: A 52-year-old woman noticed a tumor about 4 cm in diameter in the left breast. The first aspiration biopsy cytology specimen showed a few atypical cells with large multiple nuclei and thin, abundant cytoplasm. The second aspiration cytology specimen showed atypical epithelial cells with thick cytoplasm. We also noticed atypical spindle cells with features transitional toward atypical epithelial cells. Histologically, the mastectomy specimen showed spindle sarcomatous tumor admixed with focal epithelial tumor nests and a few multinucleated tumor cells. Transitional features from epithelial to sarcomatous tumor cells enabled us to diagnose this tumor as spindle cell carcinoma.
Conclusion: It is important to find features transitional from epithelial toward sarcomatous tumor cells in diagnosing spindle cell carcinoma of the breast.