Fine needle aspiration cytology of breast carcinoma: a pre-operative prognostic tool?

Fine needle aspirates from 91 breast cancers have been studied and classified into three groups on the basis of cell cytotype and the presence or absence of large nuclei. There was good correlation between cytotype and both histological grade and prognosis. The presence or absence of large nuclei provided additional prognostic information, particularly in cytotype 2. Cytotyping and the presence or absence of large nuclei in cytological smears of breast cancer provide useful information in patients with breast cancer.