title: Fine-needle aspiration cytology of breast masses in pregnant and lactating women.
abstract: Eleven pregnant women with breast masses that arose during pregnancy or in the postpartum period underwent fine-needle aspiration biopsies. Cytologic examination demonstrated a spectrum of morphologic features, including (1) a pattern of dissociated epithelial cells stripped of their cytoplasm along with small clusters of cells having a frayed secretory type of cytoplasm; (2) larger epithelial groups with nuclear pleomorphism, prominent irregular nucleoli, and abundant vacuolated cytoplasm; (3) cellular smears, often with an inflammatory background and proteinaceous debris; and (4) microtissue fragments showing features of lobular hyperplasia. This article illustrates the clinical utility of fine-needle aspiration biopsy in evaluating breast masses in pregnant and lactating women and discusses the potential hazards for a false-positive diagnosis of malignancy in these patients.
authors: Department of Clinical Pathology, East Carolina University School of Medicine, Greenville, NC.
authors: J L
authors: JL
authors: Finley
authors: J F
authors: JF
authors: Silverman
authors: D R
authors: DR
authors: Lannin
mesh_terms: D000232:Adenofibroma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001940:Breast / Q000166:cytology* / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007774:Lactation / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology