A prospective study and correlation of cytological, cell-block and histopathological diagnosis of breast lesions

Abstract

Breast carcinoma is the second most common cancer in the world and establishing an early diagnosis is clinically very important. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is the fast, reliable and ideal initial diagnostic modality for the diagnosis of these lesions.This is a cross-sectional prospective study of 12 months duration. A total of 160 patients underwent FNAC of palpable breast lump/lumps. A cell-block preparation was done for 80 cases and the histopathological examination has been performed on all the 160 cases.The cytomorphological diagnosis, cell-block diagnosis and histopathological diagnosis were correlated using suitable statistical methods.Out of 160 patients, on cytological examination, 107 cases (67%) were benign and 53cases (33%) were malignant. On histopathological examination, 104 cases (65%) were benign and 56 cases (35%) were malignant. On examination of cell block, two cases which were indeterminate in FNAC turned out to be malignant.FNAC plays a main diagnostic role as an out-patient procedure which gives rapid diagnosis. FNAC when combined with cell-block can give more accurate diagnosis.