Impalpable breast cysts: utility of cytologic examination of fluid obtained with radiologically guided aspiration.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the utility of cytologic analysis of fluid obtained from impalpable breast cysts by means of radiologically guided aspiration.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The authors retrospectively reviewed the reports of cytologic examinations of fluid obtained with sonographically or mammographically guided aspiration of 660 impalpable breast cysts in 583 women during 3 1/2 years.

RESULTS

No malignant cells (541 cysts) or insufficient cellular material (86 cysts) was seen with cytologic examination of 95% of the aspirates. Atypical cells were seen with cytologic examination of fluid from 33 (5%) lesions. None of these 33 lesions were found to represent malignancy at the time of surgical excision (n = 9) or during clinical follow-up (n = 24).

CONCLUSION

Routine cytologic examination is unnecessary if the fluid obtained with radiologically guided aspiration from impalpable breast cysts is not bloody.