Pigmented periductal cells in normal and carcinomatous breasts
Davies, J.D.
Archives of Pathology 97(6): 369-372
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0363-0153 PMID: 4132985 Document Number: 77013
Cells with ochre pigmented cytoplasm were found in the connective tissue around the major subareolar ducts in 13.5% of normal post-mortem mammary glands and 44.2% of carcinomatous mammary glands. No statistically significant variation in the prevalence of the cells was detected in different age groups or parous states. The morphological structure and microanatomical situation of the cells, their pigment, PAS reactions and autofluorescence suggested that they may be ceroid-containing macrophages. The close association of the periductal pigmented cells and luminal colostrum cells, together with morphological and histochemical resemblances between the cell-types, support the hypothesis that they are related to one another.