FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY OF SPINDLE-CELL ARGYROPHILIC MUCIN-PRODUCING CARCINOMA OF THE BREAST

An unusual breast carcinoma with prominent spindle cells, intracytopla smic mucin, and argyrophilia in an 82-yr-old woman was sampled preoper atively by fine-needle aspiration (FNA). The smears contained highly c ellular sheets and fragments of uniform spindle cells with abundant va cuolated cytoplasm. The cells were mucicarmine positive and contained many cytoplasmic argyrophilic granules. The findings were confirmed by histologic examination of the excised tumor, which was also studied w ith a panel of immunohistochemical stains. A review of the literature indicated that spindle-cell argyrophilic mucin-producing carcinoma (SC AMPC) of the breast is a very rare neoplasm presenting primarily in el derly patients. The FNA cytologic features seem to be unique and shoul d allow distinction from other primary breast lesions. (C) 1996 Wiley- Liss, Inc.