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Breast hamartoma: Fine‐needle aspiration cytologic finding
Author(s) -
Herbert Mehrdad,
Schvimer Michael,
Zehavi Sergei,
Mendlovic Sonia,
Karni Tami,
Pappo Itzhak,
Sandbank Judith
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
cancer cytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.11419
Subject(s) - medicine , hamartoma , fine needle aspiration , pathology , cytology , atypia , differential diagnosis , fibroadenoma , biopsy , breast disease , radiology , mammary gland , lobular carcinoma , ductal carcinoma , breast cancer , cancer
BACKGROUND Breast hamartoma is an unusual, well‐circumscribed, tumor‐like mass entering into the differential diagnosis of benign breast disease. To the authors' knowledge, the cytology of these lesions has not been well described. Although fine‐needle aspiration is a well established procedure for the detection of breast carcinoma, its utility in classifying benign breast disease is less clear. METHODS Fine‐needle aspirates from eight patients with histologically proven hamartomas were reviewed. None of the cases had a preoperative fine‐needle aspiration diagnosis of hamartoma. Cytologic characteristics were retrospectively evaluated in a semiquantitative manner and compared with the histologic findings. RESULTS The aspirates were moderately cellular and contained sheets of both bland ductal cells and lobular units. Adipose tissue was present in varying amounts. Bipolar stromal nuclei were readily apparent, whereas intact stromal fragments were less prominent. Cytologic atypia was uniformly absent. CONCLUSIONS The cytology of breast hamartomas shows considerable overlap with other benign breast disease and is unlikely to be interpreted as malignant. The findings of intact lobular units and a relative paucity of stroma in an aspirate from a well circumscribed breast lesion may suggest the diagnosis of hamartoma. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2003;99:255–8. © 2003 American Cancer Society.