Needle aspiration cytodiagnosis of the breast with abundant acellular calcific material mimicking soft tissue calcinosis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate calcific deposits in breast tissue by needle aspiration cytology (NAC).


METHODS
The aspirate was obtained using a disposable 10-mL syringe and 22-gauge needle. No smears were made, and material was collected as needle and syringe washings in a cytology container in which 30% ethyl alcohol in physiologic saline was present. From about half of this material, filter preparations were made on 3-microm Schleicher and Schuell filters and stained by the Papanicolaou method; the remainder of the aspirate was spun, and a cell block was made from the sediment and sections cut and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H-E) stain.


RESULTS
The filter preparations and sections of cell block in all the cases showed numerous amorphous, basophilic, deep-stained fragments of refractile material and some fragmented bod ies and concentric lamellations, which were diagnosed as calcium. No breast elements or malignant cells were found. The patients had no further treatment and on follow-up were clinically well, with no changes.


CONCLUSIONS
The 9 cases described are interesting because the cytohistologic findings in the NAC sample mimicked soft tissue calcinosis.
Gupta
Raj K
RK
Valley Diagnostic Laboratories, Lower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand. raj.gupta@xtra.co.nz
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged