BREAST CYTOPATHOLOGY
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
108 4. Primary Malignant Tumors
• Characteristically, abundant mucin that can be seen
grossly
Cytomorphologic Characteristics (Figures 4.26 to 4.29)
• Abundant mucin
• Gelatinous-appearing aspirates
• Loosely cohesive, minimally pleomorphic epithelial
fragments
• Occasional single malignant cells
• Cytoplasmic mucin vacuoles
• Fragments of stroma with capillary vessels
Pitfalls and Differential Diagnosis
• Mucocele
• Adenoid cystic carcinoma
• Fibroadenoma showing myxoid change
Figure 4.26. Colloid carcinoma. Abundant mucin containing a few
loosely cohesive fragments of carcinoma cells. The appearance of
malignant cells in colloid carcinoma is often low grade, requiring
careful exclusion of other benign entities with mucinous features
such as mucocele and fibroadenoma with abundant mucinous
stroma. (Smear, Papanicolaou.)