Breast tumor diagnosis in cytologic aspirates using monoclonal antibodies to keratin 8 and 17.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of double immunostaining in the differential diagnosis of the benign vs. malignant nature of breast lesions with fine needle aspiration results.

STUDY

DESIGN

The study group consisted of 26 samples aspirated from patients with borderline breast lesions.

RESULTS

Direct immunostaining by means of monoclonal antibodies directed against individual intermediate filament proteins keratin 8 and 17 revealed that the percentage of K8+K17+ cells in material from patients with fibrocystic disease and fibroadenoma significantly exceeded that found in carcinoma specimens. The diagnoses were confirmed histologically.

CONCLUSION

The quantitative method applied in the analysis of double-immunostained cytologic aspirates is recommended for the differential diagnosis of the benign vs. malignant nature of breast lesions in borderline cases.