The cytologic diagnosis of breast lesions

In view of the increasing number of patients presenting with breast lesions, cytology was used as a first step diagnostic procedure. This is the first study of its kind in Spain. Material was obtained from 660 patients, either from spontaneous nipple secretion or by fine needle aspiration. Cytologic criteria for recognition of the different cell types in the smears are discussed. The accuracy of the method was high (2.6% false negatives; 4.1% false positives). The cytologic technique for diagnosing breast lesions is simple, rapid and economic as well as harmless and painless. It therefore fulfills all requirements for an early diagnostic procedure.