Immunocytochemical analysis of breast cells obtained by ductal lavage

Early Diagnosis of Canine Mammary Tumours Using Nipple Aspirate Fluid Cytology and Fine Needle Aspiration Cytological Techniques

“…The non-foam cell: foam cell ratio was higher in benign (0.38), followed by atypical (0.33) and malignant categories (0.18).Exfoliation was recorded in our study which is in accordance with several works which might be due to involutional phenomenon. The ratio of epithelial cells to foam cells ranged from 0.09 to 3.4 with a median value of 0.8 is in agreement with earlier report of (King et al, 2002). Clusters were recorded more in malignant tumours which are in accordance with Priya, 2005.…”

Loss of Heterozygosity Analysis in Ductal Lavage Samples from BRCA1 and BRCA2 Carriers: A Cautionary Tale

“…Two previous studies suggest that the assessment for LOH is possible in cells obtained via DL (8,9), however, neither study addressed possible confounding factors which may have adversely influenced the reliability of genotyping. DL fluid contains a variety of different cell types including foam cells, macrophages, lymphocytes, and only a small proportion of these may be of epithelial origin (4,5), which are the most likely source of genetically aberrant premalignant cells. Because the detection of LOH requires relatively pure clonal cell populations, it is likely that even if the DL fluid contains premalignant cells harboring a region of LOH, it would be masked by the overwhelming number of normal cells.…”

“…DL has the potential benefit of greater yields of intact cells than aspiration, is less invasive than fine needle aspiration (4), and allows repeated sampling of the same ductal system providing the potential for prospective tracking of biomarker changes over time. DL effluent typically contains a variety of cell types including foam cells, macrophages, lymphocytes, and either loose or clusters of epithelial cells (4,5).…”

Endocrine Biomarkers in Ductal Lavage Samples from Women at High Risk for Breast Cancer

“…In that study, 10 random clusters of epithelial cells were counted; the mean cells per cluster were multiplied with the number of clusters, and an estimate of single cells and small clusters was added, resulting in a median ECN of 13,500 per duct in the study (3). In another study where 19 ductal lavage samples were obtained in the operating room from women with a variety of breast findings (nipple discharge, breast cancer, and benign lumps), the median epithelial cell count was 15,680 (11). Our study population consisted of 145 asymptomatic, highrisk women, mean age was 51 years, 75 of whom were postmenopausal, all lavaged in an office setting, median cell count per duct was 5,896 cells (range, 100-58,293), and mean of 11,366 cells per woman (range 137-116, 626).…”