The diagnostic cytology of breast carcinoma

Fine-needle aspiration of the breast is illustrated, together with a brief review of the development of cytological diagnosis in this field. A series of 168 surgical out-patients presenting with breast pathology have been studied by this method in an attempt to make an early diagnosis. In 108 patients, histological confirmation was available and the accuracy of cytology was 97.3 per cent. The significance of false diagnosis is discussed. It is concluded that the method is reliable.