Dependence of DNA-histograms on the sampling techniques in fine needle aspirates of the breast

48 fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) samples from 25 breast cancer cases, originally used for cytodiagnosis were subjected to DNA cytometry. There were air dried smears stained with the MGG method, and samples stained with HE or PAP stain after 50% ethanol fixation and cytocentrifugation. Different sampling strategies were applied. Four methods were tested: method 1: cell groups measured, method 2: all cells measured, method 3: free cells measured, and method 4: atypical free cells measured. Method 4 showed most often DNA aneuploid histogram patterns, sampling method 1 had the highest number of DNA diploid histogram patterns. Diagnostic approaches may benefit from a sampling method detecting the hiding aneuploid cell population. Grading of neoplasm could potentially benefit from other approaches.