Giant cells in phyllodes tumour of breast: a diagnostic dilemma

Authors

  • Kiran Agrawal Lady Hardinge Medical College, Delhi
  • Khushboo Dewan
  • Shailaja Shukla Professor Department of Pathology Lady Hardinge Medical College, Delhi

Keywords:

Phyllodes tumor, Multinucleate giant cells, Ki-67 index

Abstract

Phyllodes tumour (PT) accounts for 0.3-1% of all primary tumours of the breast. Classification of PT into benign, borderline and malignant types is important in determining the prognosis of the disease. Occurrence of multi-nucleate giant cells (MNGC) in PT is a rare occurrence.  Two types of MNGC have been described in mammary neoplasms, the multinucleate stromal giant cells (MNSGC) and the osteoclast-like giant cells (OLGC). Of thirteen cases of Phyllodes tumour (PT) with MNGC reported till date, eleven possessed pleomorphic, bizarre-appearing MNSGC and two had bland-looking OLGC. We present a case of borderline PT with multiple foci of both MNSGC and OLGC intermixed together in a hypervascular stromal background. To the best of our knowledge, such a case has not been reported earlier. The case also highlights the dilemma in grading of PT in the presence of many pleomorphic MNSGC. In these cases, Ki-67 proliferation index is important as it is not increased in the otherwise pleomorphic and bizarre-appearing MNSGC. It is also similar to the surrounding stromal cells, implying that MNSGC do not represent a more malignant population of cells. The case details along with a brief review of literature are presented.

Author Biographies

Kiran Agrawal, Lady Hardinge Medical College, Delhi

Professor

Department of Pathology

Lady Hardinge Medical College, Delhi

Khushboo Dewan

Senior Resident

Department of Pathology

Lady Hardinge Medical College, Delhi

 

References

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Published

28-01-2014

How to Cite

1.
Agrawal K, Dewan K, Shukla S. Giant cells in phyllodes tumour of breast: a diagnostic dilemma. Ann of Pathol and Lab Med [Internet]. 2014 Jan. 28 [cited 2024 Nov. 5];2(1):C5-C8. Available from: https://pacificejournals.com/journal/index.php/apalm/article/view/118

Issue

Section

Case Report