title: Epidermal inclusion cyst in breast: Is it so rare?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epidermal inclusion cyst in the breast (EICB) is very rare. It presents as breast lump mainly in peri-areolar region and needs to be differentiated from other breast lesions with predominance of squamous cells.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the role of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in patients presenting with breast lump.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study is a retrospective study over the period of past 2 years, where the patients presented with firm breast lumps. Six of these cases were diagnosed as EICB on FNAC. Smears from these cases were reviewed for cytomorphological findings and correlated with clinico-radiological details.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients ranged in age from 25 to 60 years, and female to male sex ratio was 2:1 (female 4, male 2). Mammography was done in women (4), which showed solid, well-defined mass lesions in peri-areolar region and were suggestive of benign breast lesions (3) and infective lesion (1). FNA was performed; Giemsa-stained smears showed predominantly mature benign squamous cell and anucleated squames in all cases, thus one of the cytological diagnoses was EICB. Five of these cases had histological confirmation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EIC of breast is not that rare lesion as considered. The patients may not seek medical attention because of small painless swelling; unless the lump increases in size or becomes painful. FNAC is confirmatory in the presence of a typical pultaceous aspirate and cytomorphological features of EIC. Thus, FNAC plays a crucial role in its diagnosis and management. Symptomatic cases should be readily excised and need histological correlation to rule out any potential complications that can arise in these cysts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Maulana Azad Medical College and Lok Nayak Hospital, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Meeta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Barkha
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maheshwari
authors.forename: Nita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Khurana
authors.forename: Shyama
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jain
keywords: Benign breast lesions; breast lump; cytology; epidermal inclusion cyst