Fine needle aspiration cytodiagnosis of a carcinoid tumour of the male breast

Abstract

The diagnosis of a primary carcinoid tumour of the breast in a 38-year-old male was initially made from a fine needle aspiration sample. The cytodiagnosis was supported by the histochemical demonstration of Grimelius-positive granules in tumour cells which were also found in tissue removed in a subsequent biopsy. An immunocytochemical study using markers for neuron-specific enolase and chromagranin in the aspirated sample and tissue was found to be negative. A total mastectomy with axillary node dissection was performed which showed no residual or metastatic tumour. No primary tumour was found elsewhere.