Mammary carcinoma with osteoclastlike giant cells cytologically mimicking benign breast disease. A case report.

BACKGROUND

Mammary carcinoma with osteoclastlike giant cells (OCLGCs) is a rare tumor. Few reports on the fine needle aspiration (FNA) findings are available. This case had cytologic findings overlapping with benign breast disease.

CASE: A 50-year-old woman presented with multiple masses in her right breast and a 2-cm right axillary lymph node. Cytologic scrapings and FNA of the same breast mass showed large cohesive, two-dimensional epithelial cells with a uniform distribution of small, bland nuclei. Discohesion, single cells with features of malignancy, cytologic atypia and mitosis were lacking. Many OCLGCs were present.

CONCLUSION

The cytologic features of this rare type of breast carcinoma need to become familiar to pathologists to avoid a false negative diagnosis.