High-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the breast. Fine needle aspiration cytology and clinicopathologic study of a case.
A primary high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the breast was evaluated preoperatively by fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology in a 72-year-old woman. The smears showed a mixed pattern consisting of clusters of poorly differentiated squamous cells, keratinized squamous cells and vacuolated mucin-secreting cells. The subsequent mastectomy specimen showed a tumor with the features of a high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Electron microscopy confirmed the diagnosis, reflecting the epidermoid and glandular differentiation of the tumor. The course was rapidly fatal, and the patient died a few months after presentation. A review of the literature indicated that mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the breast is a very rare neoplasm; the FNA cytologic features described in this report may constitute a basis to preoperatively recognize this tumor.
Pettinato
G
G
Department of Pathology, 2nd Medical School, University of Naples, Italy.
Insabato
L
L
De Chiara
A
A
Manco
A
A
Petrella
G
G
D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron