title: Fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of tuberculous mastitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the relationship between granulomas in the breast and tuberculous mastitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of 22 breast aspirates that showed epithelioid cell granulomas. The aspirates were reviewed and the cytomorphologic findings summarized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aspiration cytology revealed epithelioid cell granulomas along with giant cells, necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltrate. Overall acid-fast bacillus (AFB) positivity was 22.7%. AFB positivity was greater in the presence of necrosis when epithelioid cells were absent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In a country like India, the diagnosis of granulomatous mastitis must be made with caution, even in the absence of AFB. Only after a sufficient trial of antituberculosis treatment has been given and the patient fails to respond should an alternative diagnosis be suggested.
authors: Department of Cytology and Gynaecologic Pathology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Gupta
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Rajwanshi
authors: S K
authors: SK
authors: Gupta
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Nijhawan
authors: R K
authors: RK
authors: Saran
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Singh
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D015622:Epithelioid Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015726:Giant Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006099:Granuloma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008413:Mastitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014375:Tuberculoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014382:Tuberculosis, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology