Fine needle aspiration cytology of intramammary lymph nodes in an HIV-1-positive patient. A case report.
BACKGROUND
Although rare, intramammary lymph nodes can occur in any quadrant of the breast and display a variety of pathologic conditions. Intramammary lymph nodes may be detected by routine clinical examination, mammography or ultrasound or during gross surgical pathology examination of breast specimens.


METHODS
A 42-year-old, black woman, HIV-1 positive, presented with bilateral mirror-image breast masses. Fine needle aspiration cytology ruled out the presence of malignancy and confirmed the diagnosis of benign, reactive intramammary lymphadenopathy.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians and pathologists should be alert to the existence and potential importance of intramammary lymph nodes in the differential diagnosis of a breast mass in HIV-1-positive patients.
La Rosa
F G
FG
Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, USA.
Nawaz
S
S
D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology