• WATCH OUT!! don't call cancer IF:
  • low yield of epithelial cells
  • myoepithelial cells scattered about
  • naked bipolar nuclei scattered about
• signs of cancer:
  • usually quite cellular (except for lobular)
  • tissue "micro-fragments" present
  • syncytial groups with high cell density (concentration of cells) and irregularity of nuclei ("one too many nuclei in small cytoplasmic space")
• info:
  • about 30% of Dr. Abdelatif's cancer cases have false negative FNAs
  • don't belabor the case...call it "negative for diagnostic malignant features", "malignant", or "indeterminate"
• ENTITIES:
  • PASH: FNA like fibroadenoma and can suggest phyllodes tumor

References:

• Osama Abdelatif, MD, excellent breast FNA presentation at Med. College of Ga. seminar, 21 April 2001 (now chair at St. Joseph's Hosp. in Tucson, Ariz. and on path. faculty at U. of Ariz. School of Med., Tucson (resident alumnus of MCG)