Incidence of apocrine cells in fine-needle aspirates of gynecomastia: a study of 100 cases.

While the presence of apocrine cells in fibrocystic conditions of the female breast is a common finding in a fine-needle aspirate (FNA) of the breast, such a finding in gynecomastia has only been reported recently in a single case report. This study was undertaken in 100 cases with adequate cellular samples which had been diagnosed as gynecomastia from aspirates which were obtained using a 22-gauge needle and a 5-ml syringe maintaining negative pressure. The material was collected as needle and syringe washings in 30% ethyl alcohol in physiologic saline and the cytologic preparations were made on 3-microm Schleicher and Schuell filters and were stained by the Papanicolaou method. In 3 of the 100 cases, sheets of apocrine cells were noted in addition to clusters of hyperplastic ductal cells. The findings were further confirmed histologically in cell blocks which were made in the 3 cases. Based on our findings, it was concluded that apocrine cells in gyneco- mastia are found in about 3% of cases, and such a finding should be regarded as nonneoplastic, thus avoiding the need of surgical excision.