Low-grade cribriform ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast. Fine needle aspiration cytology in three cases.
This paper presents the cytologic features of fine needle aspiration biopsy specimens from three cases of ductal carcinoma in situ characterized by small and uniform tumor cells growing in a predominantly cribriform pattern without comedo necrosis (low-grade cribriform ductal carcinoma in situ). On cytology, most of the tumor cells were clustered in three-dimensional ductal structures. Occasionally in the clusters the tumor cells were seen bordering central lumina, quite similar to the architecture in histology. A few single tumor cells and no myoepithelium were seen. The background was clear or slightly hemorrhagic, without necrosis. The tumor cells were uniform and had a cylindroid shape, with round or oval nuclei. Morphometrically the mean largest nuclear diameter was 1.5-1.6 times that of a red blood cell. The chromatin was finely granular, with a minute nucleolus and slight condensation along the nuclear membrane. In cut sections all three tumors showed strong immunoreactivity for neuron-specific enolase. Unless the cribriform growth pattern is recognized in the smear, the cytologic diagnosis of this entity is difficult.
Lilleng
R
R
Department of Pathology, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Hagmar
B M
BM
Farrants
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques