Fine needle aspiration cytodiagnosis of leiomyosarcoma of the breast. A case report.
BACKGROUND
Leiomyosarcoma of the breast is a rare tumor. Here we present a case in an elderly female in which the diagnosis was suggested from an aspirate sample.


METHODS
An 80-year-old female presented with an irregular, firm mass in the left breast of a few months' duration. In view of the clinical suspicion of a tumor, fine needle aspiration was performed. It showed a large number of dissociated cells and compact sheets of spindly and round cells with pleomorphic, hyperchromatic and anaplastic nuclei; mitoses; nucleoli; and somewhat-vacuolated, eosinophilic cytoplasm. Examination of the cell block, tumor tissue and immunostaining further suggested the cytologic impression of a leiomyosarcoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Although leiomyosarcoma of the breast is very rare, fine needle aspiration cytology may allow the diagnosis to be suggested. Correlation with cell block findings and the application of appropriate immunostains as an adjuvant to standard cytologic and histologic stains may allow a more confident diagnosis.
Gupta
R K
RK
Cytology Unit, Department of Laboratory Services, Wellington Hospital and School of Medicine, Wellington, New Zealand.
Kenwright
D
D
Naran
S
S
Lallu
S
S
Fauck
R
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*