Fine needle aspiration biopsy for the diagnosis of thymoma metastatic to the breast: a case report
- Authors
- Kwon, Gui Young; Hong, Soon Auck; Hong, Min Eui; Park, Eon Sub; Yoo, Jae Hyung; Lee, Tae Jin
- Issue Date
- Sep-2010
- Citation
- Acta cytologica, v.54, no.5 Suppl, pp 798 - 802
- Pages
- 5
- Journal Title
- Acta cytologica
- Volume
- 54
- Number
- 5 Suppl
- Start Page
- 798
- End Page
- 802
- URI
- https://scholarworks.bwise.kr/cau/handle/2019.sw.cau/73268
- ISSN
- 0001-5547
- Abstract
- BACKGROUND: Extrathoracic metastases of thymomas are extremely rare, with only 9 documented cases in the cytologic literature, and a thymoma metastasis to the breast has not been reported before. Here we report the cytologic findings on fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) for the diagnosis of a case of thymoma metastatic to the breast. METHODS: A 73-year-old woman presented with a palpable mass in the right breast. A sonogram revealed a discrete, hypoechoic nodule in the upper inner quadrant of the breast. She had a history of mediastinal thymoma 2 years earlier, which was treated with chemotherapy because of inoperability. FNAB was performed: the cytologic specimen showed epithelial cell clusters with a few entrapped lymphocytes, suggestive of metastatic thymoma. However, the differential diagnosis also included a primary malignancy such as poorly differentiated ductal carcinoma or medullary carcinoma of the breast. Excisional biopsy with additional immunohistochemical staining confirmed the thymoma metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: An FNAB-based diagnosis of this rare entity can be an appropriate, simple and minimally invasive procedure in the right clinical setting and with the appropriate patient history.
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