SECRETORY BREAST-CARCINOMA IN A MAN DIAGNOSED BY FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY - A CASE-REPORT

Preoperative aspiration biopsy of a breast tumor in a 20-year-old male resulted in a diagnosis of secretory breast carcinoma. The material o btained from aspiration biopsy was also used for electron microscopic, immunocytochemical and flow cytometric analysis. The characteristic l ight microscopic features were numerous large secretory vacuoles conta ining proteinaceous material, which was also seen in the background of the smear. Electron microscopy revealed numerous intracellular lumina and some intercellular ones filled with secretory material as well as membrane-bound vacuoles. Immunoreactivity was positive for cytokerati n, epithelial membrane antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen, alpha-lactal bumin and vimentin. Flow cytometric analysis showed the tumor to be di ploid, The affected breast and tumor were resected, and the cytologic diagnosis runs confirmed histopathologically. The cytomorphologic feat ures of secretory breast carcinoma seem to be alike in men and women a nd are sufficiently characteristic to permit a definitive preoperative diagnosis from fine needle aspiration biopsy smears. The differential diagnosis with other tumors is discussed briefly.