Pseudoangiomatous stromal
hyperplasia of the breast
Pseudoangiomatous
stromal hyperplasia of the breast may form a clinical mass or may be
an incidental microscopic finding. It is characterised by the
presence of "vascular-like" spaces lined by flattened
spindle cells and devoid or red cells. Some authors regard this as an
exaggerated form of stromal hyperplasia with spaces that are
artefactal. Others regard the spaces as genuine prelymphatic spaces,
which may facultatively open to increase drainage into the main
lymphatics. The presence of these spaces in frozen sections and the
report that they may become permeated by carcinoma1
argues for their genuineness. The lining cells lack Weibel-Palade
bodies and do not have the immunohistochemical properties of
endothelial cells.
Immunohistochemistry
References
1Damiani,
S., Eusebi, V. Malignant neoplasms infiltrating pseudoangiomatous'
stromal hyperplasia of the breast: an unrecognized pathway of tumour
spread. Histopathology 2002;41:208-215.
This page last
revised 21.9.2002.
©SMUHT/PW Bishop