ABSTRACT
Objective To summarize the cytological features of breast carcinoma by fine needle aspiration and differential diagonsis of breast hyperplasia and breast flbroadenoma. Methods Cytological features about 175 cases of breast cancer were analyzed,contrasted with 76 cases of breast hyperplasia and 93 eases of fibroadenoma. And 20 cases of low-diagnosis breast cancer were analyzed, compared with 13 cases of excessive diagnosis. Results The followings were found:disorderly arranged cells in 169 cases of breast cancer, about 96.9% in 175 cases,loose distance between the nucleus in 125 cases of all cases (about 71.4%). The percentage of small groups or scattered cells, medium size cells, round nucleus and irregular border nucleus was 34.3% (60/175) ,81.1% (142/175), 88.6% (155/175) and 28.6% (50/175) respectively. The nucleus/cytoplasm ratio was increased in 105 cases of all (about 60%). The nucleus/cytoplasm ratio was obviously reduced in 15 cases of all (about 8.6%). Big nucleolis were observed in 49 cases of all (about 28%). There was significant difference between nucleus size in 136 cases of all (about 77.7%). There was not myoepithelial cell in 168 cases of all (about 96%). The percentage of visible necrosis, scsttered round nucleus and integrity of cytoplasmic was 13.7% (24/175) ,89.7% (157/175), 66.9% (117/175) respectively. The cases of all above features were significantly more than those of breast hyperplasia and breast fibroadenoma (P <0.05). The percentage of large number of cells was 52.6% in 175 breast cancer cases,higher than 5.3% in 76 breast hyperplasia cases. There was a significant difference(P <0.05) between two groups. In 20 cases of low-diagnosis breast cancer the percentage of round nucleus with integrity of cytoplasmic, special arrangement cells was 70% (14 cases) ,35% (7 cases) ,higher than the cases in 13 excessive diagnosis cases. There was a significant difference(P < 0.05) between two groups. Conclusion The cell morphological characteristics of breast caner by fine needle aspiration are large number of cells, loose distance between the nucleus, disorderly arranged cells, small guoups or scattered cells, integrity of cytoplasmic, increased nuclear, round nuclear, irregular border nucleus,increased or decreased nucleus/cytoplasm ratio, big nucleoli, significant difference in nuclear size, no myoepithelial cell, visible necrosis. Most of breast cancer can be distinguished from breast hyperplasia and breast fibroadenoma by above characteristics. All those cytological characteristics are helpful to identify difficult case.