Cytologic features of granulomatous mastitis. Report of a case with fine needle aspiration cytology and immunocytochemical findings.
BACKGROUND
Granulomatous mastitis, a rare condition of unknown etiology, affects women of childbearing age and clinically simulates breast carcinoma.


METHODS
Granulomatous mastitis of the breast in a 32-year-old female was studied by fine needle aspiration cytology. Aspirated material was quite cellular and consisted of epithelioid histiocytes, lymphocytes, plasma cells, neutrophils and multinucleated Langhans-type giant cells. However, no cheesy, necrotic material in the background was noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Granulomatous mastitis, although infrequently reported, appears to have rather characteristic cellular features that may allow its recognition.
Kobayashi
T K
TK
Department of Cytopathology, Saiseikai Shiga Hospital, Imperial Gift Foundation, Inc., Ritto, Japan.
Sugihara
H
H
Kato
M
M
Watanabe
S
S
D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D015744:Giant Cells, Langhans / Q000473:pathology; D006099:Granuloma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008413:Mastitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography