Sex chromatin in tumors of the female breast (the problem reviewed).

The authors looked for the percentage od sex chromatin in benign (73 cases) and malignant (131 cases) female mammary tumors. The sex chromatin was present in at least 30% of nuclei in benign tumors. On the other hand, in malignant tumors, the sex chromatin was present in 4 to 30% of nuclei in 42 cases and over 30% of nuclei in 76 cases. We observed one or two sex chromatin in the same nuclei in 12 malignant tumors. No correlation was observed between the percentage of sex chromatin and other prognostic factors : TNM (tumor, nodes, and metastasis), histological grading, nodal involvement, hormonal status. The authors also observed the survival after radical treatment. Therefore, this may raise the question of the value of the test.