Case Report
Year : 2017 | Volume : 1 | Issue : 2 | Page : 47 - 49
Lactational adenoma: A diagnostic pitfall on fine needle aspiration cytology
Wu Bingcheng, Yeo Yen Ching1, Tay Zhi En Amos2, Yan Zhiyan3, Mihir Gudi1
Department of Pathology, National University Hospital, 1 Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, 3 Breast Department, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 2 Department of Anatomical Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
Address for correspondence:
Dr. Mihir Gudi, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 229899, Singapore.
E‐mail: gudi.mihir.a@kkh.com.sg
Abstract
Pregnancy induces hormone‐related breast changes which pose diagnostic challenges in the evaluation of a breast lump. In particular, fine needle aspiration cytology of a lactating adenoma may mimic malignancy. The authors present a case of a woman with a right breast lump. Fine needle aspiration cytology demonstrated the presence of numerous single‐occurring epithelial cells with large round nuclei, discrete nucleoli, and ample vacuolated cytoplasm. Taken in isolation, this finding would be suspicious for malignancy. However, the clinical history of recent pregnancy was duly noted as was the presence of a granular vacuolated background on cytology. An accompanying core biopsy confirmed the lesion to be a lactating adenoma. This case highlights lactating adenoma as a potential diagnostic pitfall on fine needle aspiration cytology.
Keywords: Adenocarcinoma, diagnostic pitfall, fine needle aspiration cytology, lactating adenoma
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
How to cite this article:
Bingcheng W, Ching YY, En Amos TZ, Zhiyan Y, Gudi M. Lactational adenoma: A diagnostic pitfall on fine needle aspiration cytology. Int J Clinicopathol Correl 2017;1:47-9.
