Imprint cytology in the diagnosis of breast tumor.

Fifty breast lumps seen and operated on at the Goa Medical College Hospital over a one year period form the material for this study. The cases were at first diagnosed clinically. At operation a naked eye assessment of the malignancy of the excised breast lump was made. Slide imprints for cytodiagnosis were made and finally the excised mass sent for paraffin section study. A rapid diagnosis of these 50 surgically removed breast lumps was thus made by naked eye examination and imprint cytodiagnosis and the results were compared with routine paraffin section diagnosis which is considered the final diagnosis. An analysis of the results show that naked eye examination of the excised breast lump distinguished between malignant and non-malignant lumps correctly in 96% of cases, rapid imprint cytodiagnosis was correct in 98% of cases, clinical diagnosis in 96% of cases and aspiration cytodiagnosis in all cases. Naked eye examination of the mass prior to imprinting would help to decide the correct pressure to be used to avoid false results.