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. 1999 Jul;123(7):626-30.
doi: 10.5858/1999-123-0626-SOTB.

Spherulosis of the breast. A spectrum of municous and collagenous lesions

E E Mooney  1 , N Kayani, F A Tavassoli
Affiliations
Free article

Spherulosis of the breast. A spectrum of municous and collagenous lesions

E E Mooney et al. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 1999 Jul.
Free article

Abstract

Objective: Collagenous spherulosis of the breast is an uncommon localized pattern of basement membrane material deposition that may be mistaken for atypical proliferations or carcinoma. This report describes 9 cases in which the predominant or exclusive appearance of the spherules was basophilic instead of eosinophilic.

Design: The files of all cases of collagenous spherulosis diagnosed at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology were reviewed to ascertain the frequency of diagnosis.

Results: Spherulosis with a predominantly basophilic pattern had a histochemical and immunohistochemical profile similar to collagenous spherulosis and was associated with more collagenous-appearing forms in 7 of 9 cases. Review of 81 cases showed that collagenous spherulosis was correctly diagnosed in 15% of referrals and was mistaken for intraductal or invasive carcinoma in 11% of cases.

Conclusions: Mucinous and collagenous patterns appear to be related forms of spherulosis. They are underrecognized by pathologists and maybe mistaken for atypia or malignancy.

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