Cytodiagnosis of secretory carcinoma of the breast: A report on two cases

Secretory carcinoma of the breast is a rare (<1%) low grade breast carcinoma which shows distinct features at histology. Diagnosis of this carcinoma at fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is difficult. Two cases of secretory carcinoma of the breast presenting as a breast mass, one in a 24-year-old female and the other in a 40-year-old female are reported, highlighting their appearance at FNAC. In both the cases the aspirates were cellular and consisted of clusters and single cells with uniform round nuclei showing minimal nuclear atypia. Most of the cells had moderate to abundant cytoplasm with prominent intracytoplasmic vacuoles. Many cells showed a plasmacytoid appearance and others were binucleate. A typical amphophilic bubbly cytoplasm of the tumor cells was observed. Both cases were confirmed as secretory carcinoma on histology. The differences in cell morphology at FNAC of secretory carcinoma of the breast from other breast carcinomas, and its utility of making a preoperative diagnosis are discussed.