Malignant phyllodes tumor with liposarcomatous components: A case report with cytological presentation

Cytological and histological findings of a rare case of a malignant phyllod es tumor (with liposarcomatous components) of the breast are presented. The atypia of the stromal cells and naked nuclei in a lesion considered benign clinically and on imaging alerted us to the possibility of a phyllodes tum or, despite the low cellularity of the preoperative fine-needle aspiration smears. The excisional biopsy was histologically diagnosed as malignant phy llodes tumor with liposarcomatous components. Peculiar atypical cells with large, pale, transparent cytoplasm, or with intranuclear chromatolytic area s similar to intranuclear cytoplasmic inclusions, in addition to atypical l ipoblasts revealed in imprint smears from the excised tumor, may be importa nt for cytopathologists to achieve a definitive cytological diagnosis, and also to observe patients over long periods for recurrences and metastasis a fter surgery for this rare breast tumor. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2000;22:364-369 . (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.