ABSTRACT
Background: Usually breast cancer presents as palpable mass. Suspicion of cancer is increased when nipple discharge is also present along with palpable masses. Triple assessment i.e. clinical, radiological examination and biopsy is done to detect malignancy. However, this is expansive, operator dependent and is not readily available
Objective: To determine the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of positive malignant cell cytology of blood stained nipple discharge among patient with palpable breast mass for detection of breast carcinoma
Methodology: This cross- sectional study was conducted at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore, from 1[st] July, 2011 to 31[st] July, 2013 and included 100 patients who presented with blood stained nipple discharge along with palpable breast mass. All the patients had cytology of nipple discharge which was labeled as positive [if malignant cells were found]. Diagnosis was confirmed on histopathology of surgically removed breast lump [modified radical mastectomy for positive cases and wide local excision for negative cases]. The data was entered and analyzed by using SPSS version 20
Results: Cytology of nipple discharge was positive among 30 [30%] and negative in 70 [70%] patients. Histopathology of patients with positive cytology confirmed intraductal carcinoma in all cases [100%]. Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of cytological examination of blood stained nipple discharge was 100% each
Conclusion: Positive cytology for malignant cells in blood stained nipple discharge among patients with palpable breast masses is highly accurate and is suggestive of malignancy in almost all the cases