Cytopuncture in the follow-up of breast carcinoma

Between 1970 and 1979, at the Centre Anti-Cancéreux René Huguenin, 118 lymph nodes and 135 subcutaneous nodules were investigated by fine needle puncture in the follow-up of patients previously treated for breast carcinoma. Irradiated or contralateral breasts were not included in this study. Fine-needle puncture without aspiration was generally used. The results indicated a good correlation between cytology and histology or between cytology and the clinical course when there was no surgical control. This method is of particular interest in the differential diagnosis between recurrent carcinoma nodules and foreign body reactions on surgical scars or miscellaneous lesions not connected with breast carcinomas.