title: A cytomorphological study of secretions in breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Secretions are seen in a range of breast cancer that includes invasive ductal carcinoma, mucinous carcinoma and secretory carcinoma. Evaluation of the quantity and location of secretions and the contours of the cell clusters complement cell morphology could improve diagnostic cytopathological criteria.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify the range of breast carcinomas with secretions on fine-needle aspiration.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of 160 patients with breast carcinoma was carried out. The tumors were typed by evaluating the quantity and location of secretions, cellularity and nuclear grade.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Secretions were seen in 16 of 160 breast carcinomas. Eleven were invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), three were mucinous and two were secretory carcinomas. In IDC, minimal intracytoplasmic secretions were seen in 10, nuclear grades of 2 and 3 in 9, cell clusters with irregular margins in 6, and necrosis in 4. All mucinous and secretory carcinomas were nuclear grade 1. Extensive extracellular secretions and cell clusters with rounded contours were seen in mucinous carcinomas. In secretory carcinomas, the secretions were predominantly intracellular; stringy vasculature was a unique feature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Secretions in breast cancer are seen in a range of lesions that include IDC, mucinous, and secretory carcinomas. The quantity and location of secretions in breast cancer offer clues to differentiating these.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Arati
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.forename: Geetu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.forename: Punita
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grover
authors.forename: Navjeevan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singh
references.citation: Am J Clin Pathol. 2003 Aug;120(2):194-202
references.pmid: 12931549
references.citation: Acta Cytol. 1998 Jul-Aug;42(4):1032-6
references.pmid: 9684599
references.citation: Cancer. 1988 Mar 1;61(5):989-96
references.pmid: 2827884
references.citation: Lancet. 1994 Apr 16;343(8903):947-9
references.pmid: 7909010
references.citation: Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1991 Feb;115(2):141-4
references.pmid: 1992979
references.citation: Acta Cytol. 1994 Nov-Dec;38(6):909-14
references.pmid: 7992577
references.citation: Acta Cytol. 2000 Mar-Apr;44(2):169-74
references.pmid: 10740602
references.citation: Cancer. 1980 May 1;45(9):2404-13
references.pmid: 6445777
references.citation: J Cytol. 2011 Jan;28(1):42-4
references.pmid: 21552409
references.citation: Acta Cytol. 1992 Jul-Aug;36(4):507-10
references.pmid: 1636342
references.citation: J Cytol. 2011 Jan;28(1):13-9
references.pmid: 21552401
references.citation: J Surg Oncol. 1995 Mar;58(3):162-7
references.pmid: 7898111
references.citation: Acta Cytol. 2005 May-Jun;49(3):343-4
references.pmid: 15966301
references.citation: J Cytol. 2010 Apr;27(2):71-3
references.pmid: 21157555
references.citation: Diagn Cytopathol. 1995 Oct;13(3):196-201
references.pmid: 8575277
references.citation: Cytopathology. 2000 Dec;11(6):496-502
references.pmid: 11194081
references.citation: Am J Clin Pathol. 1991 Jun;95(6):875-7
references.pmid: 1710420
references.citation: Acta Cytol. 2001 Sep-Oct;45(5):723-9
references.pmid: 11575650