Fine-needle aspiration cytology of apocrine adenosis of the breast: report on three cases.

Apocrine adenosis is a distinctive breast lesion, which can sometimes be misdiagnosed as malignant histologically. Although its histological characteristics have been well established, there are limited descriptions of its cytological features. We report fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology of three cases of apocrine adenosis. There were diverse cytological features between cases, and in two cases, FNA smears were highly cellular. Naked nuclei were present in all cases, and were numerous in one. Enlarged nucleoli and anisonucleosis were common. Apocrine metaplasia with nuclear atypia mimicking apocrine carcinoma was prominent in one case, whereas one case lacked definite apocrine features. Regardless of their various atypical FNA cytologies, the nuclei were consistently less hyperchromatic in all cases. Although FNA cytology of apocrine adenosis has the potential to be misinterpreted as malignant, the naked nuclei of background and less hyperchromatic nuclear features may be useful in distinguishing apocrine adenosis from carcinoma. Being familiar with these distinctive breast lesions is also important in decreasing false positives.

Fine-needle aspiration cytology of bronchial acinic cell carcinoma: a case report.

Salivary gland-type carcinomas of the lung are rare but well-known tumors. Among them, acinic cell carcinoma (ACC) is extremely rare and its cytological features have not been reported. We present a case of bronchial ACC and describe its cytological characteristics. The tumor occurred in a 58-yr-old man as a 15-mm polypoid lesion at the right middle lobar bronchus and filled its lumen. Transbronchial brush cytology and a biopsy failed to collect tumor cells but transbronchial fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology was successful. The smear obtained was richly cellular and a large number of thick-layered or monolayered sheet-like tumor cell clusters and dissociated tumor cells were observed. Cribriform globular spaces were common and a lobulated acinar structure was found focally. The tumor cells had a fine granular large polygonal cytoplasm and rather uniform round or ovoid nuclei. The nuclei were situated eccentrically or centrally and the nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio was consistently low. These cytological features were essentially similar to those of ACC of the head and neck region. The patient underwent a lobectomy and the tumor was resected completely. Transbronchial FNA cytology was useful for diagnosing bronchial ACC and differentiating it from other conventional and salivary gland type carcinomas.