Abstract

Dr. Sapam Chingkhei Lakpa* and Dr. Ponnuswamy Karkuzhali

ABSTRACT

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide with more than 1.7 million new cases diagnosed each year, amounting to 25% of all cancers in women. Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), sometimes called as infiltrating lobular carcinoma, is the second most common subtype of invasive breast cancer after invasive ductal carcinoma. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a minimally invasive, safe and a rapid procedure for cytologic diagnosis of various lesions in breast. Breast malignancies are routinely diagnosed with FNA cytology, facilitating preoperative diagnosis for effective chemotherapy and surgery. Cytologic features of classic form of ILC are variable and often show poor cellularity, monomorphous small cells with mild atypia, arranged in single file pattern or in small loose clusters. Occasional findings include isolated cells, plasmacytoid cells and intracytoplasmic vacuoles. Cytodiagnosis of ILC is often difficult, because of the low cell yield and variable pattern of small cells mimicking benign proliferative lesions. Hence, ILC is often diagnosed in more advanced stages than IDC. Awareness about cytological features and prompt cytodiagnosis of ILC, helps early treatment and improves prognosis of the disease.