Fine‐needle aspiration cytology of cystic hypersecretory ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast: A case report

Cystic hypersecretory intraductal carcinoma is an unusual, cystic form of intraductal breast carcinoma affecting middle‐aged women. Cytopathologists have rarely encountered this lesion, with only 2 other cases having been previously reported (Colandrea et al., Arch Pathol Lab Med 1988;112:560–563; Kim et al., Acta Cytol 1997;41:892–896). In our case, the cytologic findings of both air‐dried, Diff‐Quik‐stained and ethanol‐fixed, Papanicolaou‐stained smears are presented. The cytologic hallmarks of this entity include the presence of a few scattered epithelial cells with bland nuclear morphology in a background of extensive, amorphous, pink‐staining material. Cytomorphologically, the differential diagnosis includes other entities containing pink‐staining material such as colloid carcinoma, mucocele‐like lesion of the breast, and benign fibrocystic change. Diagn. Cytopathol. 1999;20:160–163. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.