Needle cytology of the breast. A quantitative and qualitative study of the cells of benign and malignant ductal neoplasia.

Twenty-seven ductal breast lesions, including cases of intraductal hyperplasia, intraductal carcinoma and infiltrating carcinoma, were studied cytologically by means of the Nordenstrom screw technique. Qualitative and quantitative cellular features were evaluated and correlated with histologic findings in sections taken from the region of needle tracts. This analysis indicated that a marked variation in nuclear size, the presence of macronucleoli, chromatin clumping, marked nuclear overlap and cellular disarray were indicators of malignancy. The last two features were the most specific and sensitive indicators of malignancy whereas the others were specific but only mildly sensitive. Some prediction of the degree of hyperplasia was possible with these morphologic criteria. Infiltrating carcinoma could not be distinguished cytologically from intraductal carcinoma.