Cytomorphological spectrum of various breast lumps using FNAC as diagnostic modality

Abstract

Background: Breast carcinoma is the most common malignant tumour and the leading cause of death from cancer in women. FNAC of breast lumps is an important mode of investigation and forms a part of triple test. FNAC is cost effective and can prevent unnecessary surgery. This study intended to look the frequencies of different lesions in FNAC of palpable breast lump. Methods: It is a hospital based prospective study conducted from November 2016 to October 2017 conducted in Department of Pathology, GMC Jammu. FNAC was done in a total of 289 patients who presented with palpable breast lump along with suspected enlarged axillary lymph node, if any. We assessed the age of the patient, lesion size, site, type of lesion and axillary lymph node metastasis in case of malignancies. Results: Out of 289 patients studied, 250 (86.5%) were females and 39 (13.4%) were males. Age ranges from 7-88 years with a mean age of 36 years. Most of the patients were in 21-30 years age group (30.6%). 241 cases (96.4%) presented with breast lump while the swelling was diffuse in 9 cases. Maximum number of cases in females were seen in the age group of 21-30 years i.e. 75 cases (30%). Upper outer quadrant was the most common quadrant involved in females with 70 cases (28%). On FNAC, there were 36 cases (12.4%) of Inflammatory lesions, 198 (68.5%) of benign cases and 29 cases (10.06%) of carcinoma breast. Among the benign lesions maximum number of cases i.e. 58 cases (20.06%) were reported as Fibroadenoma. On cytological categorisation of breast diseases on FNAC, maximum number of cases i.e. 221 (76.4%) were categorised as C2 (Benign) followed by 29 cases (10.06%) categorised as C5 (Malignant).