FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY OF A SUBAREOLAR ABSCESS OF THE MALE BREAST

We report on the fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology of a subareolar abscess of the breast in a 45-yr-old man. The patient presented with a 1.5-cm mass in the subareolar region. FNA cytology demonstrated the presence of numerous anucleated squamous cells and a few small nucleat ed squamous cells as well as numerous neutrophils and some lymphocytes in the background. Histiocytes were also present, including some mult inucleated foreign-body-type giant cells. No organisms were identified either with special stains or microbiologic cultures. The differentia l diagnosis of FNA of the male breast is presented, along with other l esions that can potentially contain either benign or malignant squamou s cells in rite aspirate. The correct FNA diagnosis of this unusual be nign lesion involving the mole breast should lead to the appropriate t reatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first published re port of FNA cytology of a subareolar abscess of the male breast. (C) 1 998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.