Malacoplakia and rosai‐dorfman disease: Two entities of histiocytic origin infrequently localized in the female breast—the cytologic aspect in aspirates obtained via fine‐needle aspiration cytology

Abstract

We describe one case of Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) localized in the breast and one case of breast malacoplakia (MPK) both diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). In RDD the cytologic features were lymphocytophagocytosis, large histiocytes with slight nuclear atypia, and lymphohistiocytic aggregates in a polymorphous background which included frequent plasma cells. In MPK the key diagnostic feature was the presence of Michaelis-Gutmann bodies (M-G bodies), in various stages of evolution, intermingled with vacuolized medium-sized histiocytes, other inflammatory cells, and debris. Pap staining is the technique of choice to show lymphocytophagocytosis and M-G bodies and there is no need to resort to special staining methods. RDD and MPK share a common cytologic background: the presence of numerous benign reactive histiocytes, either engulfing apparently intact lymphocytes, or phagocytizing M-G bodies. The cytologic findings seen in both cases suggest that the presence of histiocytes in a breast aspirate is far from being nonspecific and can represent an important lead to disparate diseases such as RDD and MPK.

Rosai-Dorfman Disease of the Breast in a Male

“…The diagnosis was based on histopathologic examination of excision and core biopsy specimens in most of the cases, FNA followed by excision biopsy in 4 cases [7][8][9][10][11] and FNA alone in 1 case. 5 The present case was diagnosed by FNA.…”

“…3 To date, 19 cases of intramammary RDD have been reported in the literature, involving one or both breasts, with or without concurrent nodal lesions (Table I). 1,[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] The age at presentation of 18 cases (not taking into count 1 case reported by Nguyen et al 14 ) ranged from 15 years to 84 years (mean, 48.2). All these lesions have occurred in females except for 2 cases, which presented in males.…”

Letters to the Editors

“…1,4,[6][7][8]10 As in our cases, these photographs are of alcohol-fixed, Papanicolaou-stained material. No clear empty halos were observed in either our airdried smears nor in published photographs of airdried material.…”

“…8,12 Pathologically, thyroglossal duct-associated neoplasms are rare and constitute < 1% of thyroid cancer. 6,13 The differential diagnosis of a midline neck mass includes a pyramidal lobe of the thyroid, thyroid adenoma, aberrant thyroid tissue, branchial cleft cyst, lipoma, dermoid cyst, lymphadenopathy and hemangiomas. It has been recommended that a preoperative thyroid scan be performed to rule out the presence of an ectopic thyroid gland.…”

“…1,[5][6][7] Pure squamous cell carcinoma of the breast is relatively rare. 1,[5][6][7] Coexistence of adenocarcinomatous and squamous carcinomatous components in the same breast lesion is also extremely rare. 9,10,13,14 We described a case of adenosquamous carcinoma accurately diagnosed by fine needle aspiration (FNA).…”