Aspiration biopsy cytology in proliferating benign mammary dysplasia

The accuracy of the cytologic diagnosis from needle biopsy in proliferating mammary dysplasia was tested on the basis of 101 histologically proven cases of mild to severe degree. The cytomorphologic presentation in smeared aspirate is described. A reliable cytologic diagnosis of proliferating mammary dysplasia was possible in about half of the cases. This implies that the fine-needle biopsies give new possibilities for detection and intensive surveillance without surgical biopsies of women with increased risk of developing breast cancer. Study of the individual cases showed that the more severe the proliferation of the mammary epithelium, the greater the accuracy of the cytologic diagnosis. In intraductal and intracystic proliferation the accuracy was higher than in pure adenosis.