Intracystic papillary carcinoma of the breast: a diagnostic challenge with major clinical impact.

Background: Intracystic papillary carcinoma (IPC) is a ductal carcinoma of papillary variety that develops in a cystic space surrounded by a fibrous capsule. It is a rare clinicopathological entity, the in situ or invasive character of which is difficult to establish, particularly on biopsy. The treatment is surgical and breast conservation depends on the tumor size.

[Breast cytopathology bestiary].

Breast cytopathology of tubular and lobular carcinomas may be very difficult. Indeed, the classical morphological signs of malignancy are often scarce or absent; the identification of special patterns of cell clusters may therefore be very useful to reach a diagnosis. Following the review of many cases of cytological smears with histological confirmation, a series of peculiar cytological aspects (often mimicking little animals such as butterfly, eagle, dog, lizard, fish, rabbit.