Pattern of palpable breast lesions on fine needle aspiration: A retrospective analysis of 902 cases

BACKGROUND: Breast lumps constitute a significant proportion of surgical cases in women of both developed and developing countries. The aim of this study is to look the frequency distribution of various breast lesions on fine needle aspiration (FNA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 902 patients who presented with palpable breast lump, irrespective of age and sex were included in the study. Frequency distribution of various breast lesions with respect to age and sex was studied. Cytology grading in breast carcinoma was correlated in 69 cases with histology grading. RESULTS: The majority (N = 871) of patients were females with maximum (N = 566) patients between second and third decade. The 773 patients had benign breast lesions and maximum (N = 341) patients were in the second decade. Fibroadenoma was the commonest benign lesion followed by fibrocystic change and mastitis. Out of 119 malignant breast lesions, 31.93% [N = 38] were between 41-50 years of age, 28.57% [N = 34] in 51-60 years and 22.68% [N = 27] in between 31-40 years of age. Out of 119 malignant breast lumps and majority were infiltrating ductal carcinoma (N = 108). Cytology grading correlated maximum with histology grade in Grade I followed by Grade II and Grade III. CONCLUSION: With experienced hands, FNA is safe, cost effective and a reliable technique for preoperative evaluation of palpable breast lumps. FNA features are more informative when combined with physical and radiology findings (Triple test). Fibroadenoma, fibrocystic change and mastitis form the major bulk of benign breast lesions. Epithelioid cells when seen in inflammatory breast FNA smears, tuberculosis must be ruled out. In India, breast carcinoma arises in younger patients as compared to western countries. Grading of breast carcinomas must be done on FNA smears for selecting neoadjuvent therapy. Clinical breast examination and mammography screening in females should be encouraged in developing countries from the third decade onwards for early detection of breast carcinoma.