Studies on cytologic characteristics of mammary aspiration smears based on histologic types.

Cytologic findings of aspiration smears from 146 histologically confirmed mammary were analyzed in this paper. High cellularity, dispersal of cells in the smears and enlarged nuclei of more than 20 mu in major axis were considered to be useful key points to distinguish carcinoma from benign lesions. Irregular piling, variable nuclear shape, cellular fusion and cytoplasmic inclusions were other common findings in cancer specimens and were scarcely noticed in benign cases. However, in some papillotubular carcinomas the above mentioned characteristics were not so dominant. Scirrhous carcinomas sometimes presented small nuclei in the smears. In some fibroadenomas, the smears were occasionally very cellular and revealed dipersal of cells.