Faculty Bibliography

Mucinous lesions in the breast are uncommon. They constitute a wide spectrum of lesions ranging from extravasated mucin associated with fibrocystic change to mucinous carcinoma. There are limited data on the reliability of core biopsy in the diagnosis of mucinous lesions of the breast. We reviewed the core biopsy and surgical biopsy diagnoses in 32 mucinous lesions of the breast. We conclude that core biopsy is highly reliable for accurate diagnosis of mucinous lesions of the breast

We report a case of an intraparenchymal leiomyoma of the breast with description of the radiologic, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical findings. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of an intraparenchymal leiomyoma of the breast diagnosed by core needle biopsy and the 22nd case described in the literature. In addition, we review the literature on this uncommon breast neoplasm

We describe the fine-needle aspiration biopsy findings in a case of epithelioid myoepithelioma of the parotid gland in a 24-yr-old male. The cytologic features of myoepithelioma of the parotid gland are only documented in a few case reports and we believe the cytologic description of the epithelioid variant has been described in only one other case. The differential diagnosis with other salivary gland neoplasms is discussed. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2006;34: 776-779. (c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc

BACKGROUND: Axillary lymph node status is still considered the most significant prognostic factor for breast cancer outcome, and treatment decisions are based on the presence or absence of nodal disease. Intramammary lymph nodes (IMLNs) can be a site of regional spread. Is this a marker for more aggressive disease? METHODS: We reviewed the cancer center pathology database from 1991 to 2005 for all cases of breast cancer with IMLNs. RESULTS: IMLNs were identified in 64 breast cancer patients, with metastatic spread in 20 patients, and benign IMLNs described in 44 patients. Positive IMLNs were associated with more aggressive disease, including higher rates of invasive versus noninvasive cancers (5% ductal carcinoma-in-situ [DCIS] with positive IMLNs vs. 23% with negative IMLNs), lymphovascular invasion (55% vs. 11%), and a higher rate of axillary lymph node involvement (72% vs. 18%). Patients with positive IMLNs were also more likely to undergo mastectomy (75% vs. 54%). CONCLUSIONS: IMLN metastases are a marker for disease severity; recognition of this may influence choice of adjuvant therapy. The presence of metastatic disease in an IMLN is associated with a high rate of axillary nodal involvement, and should mandate axillary dissection. Preoperative lymphoscintigraphy may help identify these extra-axillary metastases

BACKGROUND: Breast masses occur in men far less commonly than women and are infrequently subjected to fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. Papillary lesions of the male breast are rare and are comprised of a spectrum of lesions ranging from papillary hyperplasia in gynecomastia to invasive papillary carcinoma. The following study describes the cytomorphology of papillary breast lesions in 11 men. The patients ranged in age from 23 to 78 years old and each presented with an unilateral subareolar or periareolar breast mass that varied in size from 0.5 to 3 cm. Two patients presented with bloody nipple discharge. METHODS: Archival material (8-year period) from FNA biopsies of papillary lesions of the male breast was reviewed. The reviewed cases were correlated with appropriate clinicopathologic follow-up. RESULTS: The smears had variable cellularity but all showed papillary clusters of mammary epithelial cells with and without fibrovascular cores. Single epithelial cells with a high nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio and eccentric nuclei were seen in all smears; however, these were more numerous in cases of adenocarcinoma. Hemosiderin-laden macrophages were present in all cases. Nipple discharge was seen only in the 2 benign lesions. All adenocarcinomas occurred in older men. CONCLUSIONS: The only cytologic criteria that differentiated benign from malignant papillary lesions were marked cellularity and the presence of abundant 3-dimensional clusters. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the current series is the largest in the English literature to date that examines the cytomorphologic features of papillary breast lesions in men

The use offine-needle aspiration biopsy or percutaneous core needle biopsy to diagnose breast lesions has increased during the past few decades. Although the benefits of these procedures are well known, controversies remain about the management of certain categories of breast lesions detected by these methods. This article discusses the management issues in categories of breast lesions, including papillary lesions, atypical lobular hyperplasia and lobular carcinoma in situ, and mucinous lesions diagnosed by the preoperative techniques of aspiration or core biopsy

PURPOSE: To retrospectively review the imaging and histologic findings in patients in whom a benign papillary lesion was diagnosed at core-needle breast biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board at each institution; patient consent was not required. The study was HIPAA compliant. The authors reviewed the findings from 42 patients (age range, 26-76 years; mean age, 54.3 years) with 43 benign papillary lesions diagnosed at core-needle biopsy. Thirty-six (84%) of the 43 lesions were surgically excised, and seven (16%) were followed up with long-term imaging. The authors assessed the radiographic findings, the histologic findings at core-needle biopsy, and the findings at subsequent surgical excision or imaging follow-up. Statistical analysis was performed on a per-patient basis and included the Blyth-Still-Casella procedure to construct exact 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and the Fisher exact test. RESULTS: At core-needle biopsy, lesions were diagnosed as papilloma (n = 29), sclerosing papilloma (n = 8), and benign papillary lesions not otherwise specified (n = 6). For the 36 lesions that were surgically excised, histologic follow-up showed no residual lesion in 10, intraductal papilloma in 14, intraductal papillomatosis in two, papilloma with adjacent foci of atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) in eight, and well-differentiated papillary ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in two. Mammographic follow-up in the remaining seven lesions revealed stable calcifications in five (at 28-55 months) and no residual lesion in two (at 26-29 months). In nine of the 42 patients (21%), the diagnosis was upgraded to either ADH or DCIS (exact two-sided 95% CI = 11.4%, 36.4%). CONCLUSION: The results strongly suggest that papillary lesions diagnosed as benign at core-needle biopsy should be surgically excised because a substantial number of lesions were upgraded to ADH and DCIS at excision