A cytological and histomorphological case study of an uncommon breast carcinoma: Invasive papillary type

Pure papillary carcinoma of the breast is a rare tumour affecting elderly postmenopausal women. We report one case in a relatively younger woman presenting with a clinically benign breast lump.The tumour showed extensive apocrine metaplasia. The ease with which abundant material with highly cellular papillary clumps is obtained on fine needle aspirate should be an important consideration favouring papillary carcinoma. The quality and quantity of stroma in papillae rather than the presence or absence of stromal support should also be a guiding criteria for excluding benign papillary lesions.