Korean J Cytopathol.  2004 Nov;15(2):106-111.

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Invasive Micropapillary Carcinoma of the Breast: Report of four Cases

• Kwon SY
• Jung HR
• Kang YN
• Kim SP
• Kwon KY
• Lee SS

Abstract

Invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPCa) is a rare variant of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. This variant is associated with a set of peculiar cytological findings and aggressive biological behaviors. In most reported cases, IMPCa has involved massive axillary lymph node metastases at the time of diagnosis. We experienced four cases of cytological features of IMPCa, all of which were verified by histological examination. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) revealed malignant epithelial cells, which formed small, oval to angulated papillary clusters, which lacked central fibrovascular cores. The histological findings of the four cases revealed both pure and mixed forms of IMPCa, composed of cohesive malignant epithelial cells, surrounded by distinctive clear spaces and separated by thin fibrous septa. All patients evidenced axillary lymph node metastases at the time of diagnosis. It is important to identify the peculiar cytological findings which would differentiate IMPCa from other diseases.

Keyword

Breast; Invasive micropapillary carcinoma; Fine needle aspiration cytology

MeSH Terms

Biopsy, Fine-Needle*
Breast*
Carcinoma, Ductal
Diagnosis
Epithelial Cells
Humans
Lymph Nodes
Neoplasm Metastasis