Fine-needle aspiration cytodiagnosis of Liesegang rings in women presenting with a mammographic opacity.

In this communication three women patients are described in which fine needle aspiration cytology was undertaken as a first line of noninvasive investigation to determine the cause of a mammographic opacity. The cytologic findings in the three cases showed features of apocrine cysts with numerous spherical ring-like structures resembling Liesegang rings of various sizes, with double-layer outer wall, striations, and an amorphous central nidus. Although similar structures have been described by us very rarely in breast cysts, their presence in a mammographic opacity was noted for the first time. Furthermore, in the three cases fine-needle aspiration cytology not only resulted in a specific diagnosis but also obviated the need for any invasive surgery apart from relieving patient anxiety and clinical concern by excluding a serious lesion.