title: Distinction of phyllodes tumor from fibroadenoma: Cytologists' perspective.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fibroadenomas and phyllodes tumors may have similar cytological appearances. However, a detailed study of cytomorphology of stromal elements may be helpful in differentiation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the cytological features of phyllodes tumor in our study with special reference to features that can help distinguishing it from fibroadenoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The archival materials of our hospital were searched from January 2006 to January 2009 for histopathologically-diagnosed cases of phyllodes tumor. The cases in which previous cytopathology smears were available were included in the study. The cytomorphology of 10 such cases were compared with 25 cytologically-diagnosed and histopathologically-confirmed cases of fibroadenoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The size, cellularity of stromal fragments, and the proportion of spindle cells in the background are important features in such differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Medical College, Kolkata, India.
authors.forename: Ranjana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bandyopadhyay
authors.forename: Dipanwita
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nag
authors.forename: Santosh Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mondal
authors.forename: Subhalakshmi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mukhopadhyay
authors.forename: Sumit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roy
authors.forename: Swapan Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sinha