Fibroadenoma and Intraductal Carcinoma of Breast - A Mucin Histochemical Study

BACKGROUND: Mucin histochemistry is one of the important branch of histochemistry aiding in identification, differentiation and understanding of the disease process. OBJECTIVES: To know the mucin distribution in fibroadenoma and intraductal carcinoma of breast. METHODOLOGY: This is a retrospective, observational, analytical, case control study aimed to evaluate mucins histochemical pattern in fibroadenoma and intraductal carcinoma of breast. Twenty five histologically proven blocks of fibroadenoma and intraductal carcinoma of breast were taken. Tissue sections were stained by Mayer's Haematoxylin and Eosin, PAS, PAS-diastase, Phenylhydrazine-PAS, Alcian blue 2.5, Alcian Blue 1, combined Alcian blue-PAS, Aldehyde Fuschin and combined Aldehyde fuchsin- Alcian blue techniques. RESULTS: Results were tabulated according to color intensity into different grades ranging from + to ++++. Regarding mucin histochemistry of fibroadenoma ; periductal stroma was PAS negative. While interlobular stroma was PAS positive and showed predominance of neutral mucins. Periductal and intralobular stroma showed predominance of acidic mucins. In Intraductal carcinoma of breast ; �sialomucins� were seen predominant over neutral and sulphomucins. . CONCLUSION: Mucin histochemical patterns serve as valuable, cost-effective tool in diagnostic histopathology and for the researchers in histology, where a slight change in the mucin pattern may help in the early diagnosis of the disease.