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The diagnostic utility of cell block in fine needle aspiration cytology of palpable breast lesions in a Nigerian tertiary health institution
Author(s) -
Obiajulu Fred John Nnaemeka,
Daramola Adetola Olubunmi,
Anunobi Charles Chidozie,
Ikeri Nzechukwu Zimudo,
Abdulkareem Fatimah Biade,
Banjo Adekunbiola Aina
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
diagnostic cytopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.417
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1097-0339
pISSN - 8755-1039
DOI - 10.1002/dc.24576
Subject(s) - medicine , malignancy , medical diagnosis , fine needle aspiration cytology , biopsy , radiology , fine needle aspiration , cytology , diagnostic accuracy , pathology
Background Although fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is highly accurate for detecting breast malignancies, concerns remain among cytopathologists about false‐positive and false‐negative diagnoses. Cell block (CB) preparations have been advocated by some cytopathologists as one of the methods to improve and consolidate the diagnostic accuracy of FNAC. The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic utility of CB in FNAC of palpable breast lesions among female patients. Methods Following FNA, CBs were prepared using 10% neutral‐buffered formalin from the residual breast aspirates of 100 consecutive female patients attending the FNAC clinic. The slides of the conventional smears, CB and excisional biopsies were examined, and results were analysed using the SPSS. Results Of the 100 patients that had FNAC, 44 (44%) had excisional biopsy performed. An additional 13% diagnostic yield for malignancy was obtained with the use of CB preparations. CB reduced equivocal diagnoses by 25%, corresponding with 90.9% improvement on definitive diagnoses. Conclusion In our setting, the addition of CB to smear remarkably improved the diagnostic utility of breast FNAC by minimising atypical and suspicious for malignancy diagnostic categories.