[Cytologic evaluation of the hormonal state in female with breast tumours (author's transl)]

Physiologic changes, growth, differentiation, and involution of the female breast are closely connected to the endocrine activity of the ovary. We examined the relationship of progesteron and oestrogen in 69 women with tumours of the breast. Histology revealed benign tumours in 18 and malignant tumours in 51 patients. Both groups showed distinct alterations in hormonal cytology of the vaginal smear. Statistical evaluation of the findings gives hints of a hormonal imbalance. There is a relative increase of oestrogenic activity and a lack or a decrease of gestagenic activity in women before menopausis. In postmenopausal and old women, neoplasms of the breast are accompanied by signs of proliferative activity as shown by the laboratory data.