Columnar cell change of the breast

Columnar cell change of the breast - very high magnification. H&E stain. (WC/Nephron)

Columnar cell change of the breast, usually columnar cell change (abbreviated CCC), is a benign finding in breast pathology.

It is also known as blunt duct adenosis.

General

• Columnar cell change is associated with (benign) calcification - key point.

Microscopic

Features:

• Secretory cells (line gland lumen) have columnar morphology.
• May have "apical snouts".
  • Blebs or round balls eosinophilic material appear to be adjacent to the cell at their luminal surface.
  • The snouts are attached to the cell-- appear as round ball only in the plane of section.
• Cytoplasm +/-eosinophilia.
• Often (purple) luminal calcifications.

DDx:

• Flat epithelial atypia (>2 cell layers).^{[citation needed]}
  • If the columnar cells shows low to intermediate grade atypia the process is termed "flat epithelial atypia"
  • If higher grade atypia is present the lesion is termed "flat DCIS" (clinging carcinoma).

Images

• 

  CCC - intermed. mag.

• 

  CCC - high mag.

• 

  CCC - very high mag.

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• Columnar cell change (webpathology.com).

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• Usually not reported.

See also

• Breast pathology.