Abstract
Objective: We investigated the utility of liquid-based cytology (LBC) of material from breast tumors obtained by FNA, in addition to conventional preparations.
Study Design: After preparing a conventional smear, the recoverable material remaining in the FNA needle and syringe was processed by the LBC technique. We assessed whether the two types of preparations were adequate from the standpoint of quantity of cells and artifacts induced by dryness or crushing. The cytological and histological diagnoses were compared, and the cytologic features of LBC have been summarized.
Results: We performed LBC in 564 cases over the period of one year. The LBC preparations in 126 cases clearly showed an increase in quantity of cells. Dryness and/or crushing was observed in 50 cases in the conventional smears despite a sufficient number of cells. The conventional preparations alone were regarded as adequate in 248 cases (44%), but the number of adequate cases rose to 411 (73%) when LBC preparations were added. No marked differences staging in diagnosis were observed between LBC and conventional smears, but many benign lesions were correctly diagnosed after adding LBC. Some attention must be paid to interpretation of cytologic findings of LBC.
Conclusion: Adding LBC to conventional smears, resulted in a marked increase in the number of adequate specimens. More accurate diagnoses can be made when the cytologic features of LBC are comprehended.
