Pregnancy and lactational changes

Most breast lesions in pregnant and postpartum women are benign and result from hormonal stimulation of breast tissue. Pregnancy can produce lactating adenomata or cause enlargement of pre-existing breast lesions such as fibroadenomata.

Lactating adenoma and lactational change - cytological diagnostic features

• Cellular smears
• Bubbly vacuolated secretion in the background
• Numerous aggregates, loose clusters, and individually dispersed cells with frayed and
  vacuolated cytoplasm
• Absence of bipolar naked nuclei (except in fibroadenomata with lactational change)
• Acinar cells with rounded nuclei, prominent nucleoli and abundant fragile vacuolated cytoplasm
• Stripped round to oval nuclei with obvious nucleoli