BREAST CYTOPATHOLOGY

Chondroid Syringoma 75
• A malignant counterpart is exceedingly rare, often requiring
adjuvant therapy.
Cytomorphologic Characteristics
• Variable cellularity, often moderate
• Larger cells, polygonal, densely granular cytoplasm
• Round to oval, uniform, slightly eccentric nuclei
• Numerous naked “stripped off” nuclei in a granular smear
background
• Single cells or smaller fragments more common than larger
tissue fragments
• Immunostaining with S-100 protein can be extremely
helpful
Pitfalls and Differential Diagnosis
• The dissociated nature of the cells with ample amounts of
granular cytoplasm may mimic histiocytes or apocrine
metaplastic cells (Distinction from fibrocystic changes,
however, is not difficult.)
• Metaplastic carcinoma
• Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor
Chondroid Syringoma
Clinical Features
• Chondroid syringoma is also known as pleomorphic
adenoma or benign mixed tumor (morphologically and
immunohistochemically resembling salivary gland pleomorphic
adenoma). It presents as a well-defined nodular
mass with nonulcerated overlying skin, seen predominantly
in face, head, and neck.
• This is a rare neoplasm of the breast that morphologically
resemblances the analogous tumor occurring in the salivary
gland.