Retrospective Study of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Clinically Palpable Breast Lumps

Abstract

Introduction: Breast carcinoma is the second most common malignant tumor and leading cause of death in women. The fine needle aspiration cytology of breast lump is a rapid, safe, cost effective and good screening method .It is important tool for initial diagnosis and management of palpable breast swellings. The aim of this study is to identify the common benign and malignant tumors of the breast lump.

Materials and methods: A retrospective longitudinal study was carried out in the Department of Pathology, Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences over one year period. Procedure was done using 10 ml disposable syringe. The air-dried smear and wet smear was stained with Giemsa stain, papanicolaou stain respectively for morphological study.

Results: Out of 95 cases, 93 were females. Breast lumps were most common in 20 to 40 years of age group i.e. 48.42 %( n=95). Benign lesions were found in 91%. In 22.10% (n=95) of cases, fibroadenoma was seen followed by benign chronic inflammatory lesion (18.94%). In malignant tumor, ductal carcinoma was diagnosed mostly in 40 -80 years age group.

Conclusion: Our study concluded that fine needle aspiration cytology is the early diagnostic tool for diagnosis of benign and malignant tumor. Fibroadenoma was the common benign tumor and invasive ductal carcinoma was the common malignant tumor.