Can Breast Nipple Fluid Collected with Automated Aspiration and Preserved in Based-Liquid Solution Improve the Cytological Samples?

Abstract

Objective: Samples from breast nipples collected with the automated HALO™ Mamo Cito Test were studied in order to evaluate the cellularity for the diagnosis of breast cancer. Study Design: One hundred and fifty-nine asymptomatic women were prospectively examined. Women younger than 18 years, pregnant or lactating women, and women with a history of breast cancer, with previous radio- or chemotherapy and with nipple piercing were excluded from the study. Nipple samples from both breasts were collected. Results: In 107 (34.96%) of the 306 samples of nipple discharge analyzed by optical microscopy, adequate cellularity was observed after the HALO procedure. Cytological findings, previously categorized according to the National Health Service Breast Screening Program (NHSBSP), were grouped as unsatisfactory, benign, suspected for malignancy, and malignant. Of the cellular breast samples, 97.19% (104/107) were classified as benign, and 2.81% (3/107) were classified as suspicious for malignancy. In 199 cases there were samples without cells (65.03%). Most of the cells observed were easily recognized as well-preserved and adequately stained macrophages. None of the women reported discomfort with the nipple aspiration procedure. Conclusions: The results discussed here encouraged us to use samples collected automatically in routine procedures.

Proliferative epithelial disease identified in nipple aspirate fluid and risk of developing breast cancer: a systematic review

“…Subgroup analyses and updates on the previously studied populations were identified through original study method descriptions, provided references, or direct confirmation by the study author. One most informative article was selected to represent the cohorts that were studied more than once to avoid double-counting the study subjects, leaving 16 articles for analysis of incidence of cytological groups (Figure 1) 12, [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] . Eight of the 16 articles reported information on cancer outcomes (Table 2) 12, 17,18,23,[29][30][31][32] .…”

“…The next most cited systems were the NCI FNA criteria and 12,18 articles, respectively. The rest of the articles either used other classification systems 20,31 , or did not provide any specific information about the source of the classification system 21,29 . The baseline characteristics of the included studies are shown in Supplemental Table 1.…”

Liquid-Based Medium Used to Prepare Cytological Breast Nipple Fluid Improves the Quality of Cellular Samples Automatic Collection

“…There was a high rate of unsatisfactory samples, suggesting that the lack of standardization when preparing smears can be decisive in the loss of quality of the cells. In cases classified as atypical, it was difficult to observe some important nuclear characteristics, such as hyperpigmentation marked irregularity of the nuclear membrane due to virtue of the degree of degeneration of the smears [ 24 ].…”

Diagnostic Accuracy of Nipple Aspirate Fluid Cytology in Asymptomatic Patients: A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review of the Literature

“…22 Its potential as a screening tool for nipple fluid and has been evaluated by several groups. [23][24][25][26][27][28] However, the evidence base for the relative risk of breast cancer following abnormal cytology comes largely from breast tissue fine needle aspirate cytology or breast biopsies. [29][30][31] Whether the two can be compared is controversial.…”