Cytological grading of breast cancers and comparative evaluation of two grading systems.

AIM

To evaluate and compare the cytograding of breast cancers using Robinson's and Mouriquand's grading methods.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A 5-year retrospective (from Oct 2000 to Sept 2005) and 1-year prospective study (from Oct 2005 to Oct 2006). A total of 110 fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) cases of breast cancers were studied. These were graded according to Robinson's and Mouriquand's grading methods (grade I-III) followed by comparison of the two methods.

RESULTS

Of the 110 cases graded according to Robinson's method, 28 (25.45%) cases were grade I, 46 (41.81%) grade II, and 36 (32.72%) were grade III, whereas using Mouriquand's grading methods, 28 (25.45%), 42 (38.18%), and 40 (36.36%) cases were graded as grade I, II, and III, respectively. A high degree of concordance was observed between the two grading methods (90.9%). A highly significant relationship between the scores obtained by two methods was also observed (P=0.004).

CONCLUSIONS

A comprehensive cytological grading of breast cancers is possible by using two different methods proposed by Robinson and Mouriquand. In spite of a high degree of concordance between the two methods, the Robinson's grading system has been found to be easier and better because of more objective set of criteria and easy reproducibility.