Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast--diagnosis by aspiration biopsy cytology: report of two cases and literature review.
The unusual metaplastic carcinomas have a variety of names, each emphasizing the dominant histologic pattern. Components may include features of ductal, spindle, or squamous carcinoma with pseudosarcomatous, cartilaginous, or boney areas. A few reports from individual tumors examined by fine-needle aspiration biopsy have emphasized an array of findings. This study includes two of our cases with a review of 12 others from the literature. The breast neoplasm has a characteristic pattern on aspiration biopsy cytology (ABC). The cell-rich aspirate reveals benign multinucleated giant cells intermingled with malignant spindled or squamous cells on a background of necrotic debris, inflammatory cells, and blood. Additionally, cells from infiltrating ductal carcinoma and mesenchymal fragments are often seen.
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Division of Cytology, Lankenau Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19151.
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D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged