title: Metaplastic carcinomas of the breast--fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology findings.
abstract: Metaplastic carcinomas of the breast are defined by mesenchymal and/or squamous cell components associated with ductal carcinoma and may raise diagnostic problems in FNA cytology. We reviewed FNA smears of a series of nine cases; seven were compared with histological sections and two with cell-block sections. The cytological pattern was diagnostic of carcinoma in six cases; in two cases a diagnosis of sarcoma/phyllodes tumour was considered, as cells were predominantly spindle-shaped. One case had a pleomorphic adenoma type pattern. The cytological findings suggesting a diagnosis of metaplastic carcinoma include a liquid aspirate, a proteinaceous or chondromyxoid background and a poorly differentiated tumour with multinucleated giant cells, neoplastic or histiocytic. A definite diagnosis requires the presence of both carcinomatous and metaplastic (squamous/mesenchymal) components.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia Morfológica, Instituto Português de Oncologia de Francisco Gentil, Centro de Lisboa, Portugal.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: André
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mendonça
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D018196:Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002296:Carcinosarcoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D008679:Metaplasia / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D003557:Phyllodes Tumor / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014746:Vimentin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014746:Vimentin; D007633:Keratins