title: Evaluation of the Cal antibody in the detection of malignant cells in fine needle aspirates from breast lumps.
abstract: In a study involving 86 fine needle cell aspirates from patients with breast lumps attending a primary Breast Referral Clinic, we have been unable to confirm that cellular binding of Cal antibody reliably differentiates between benign and malignant disease of the breast. The test carried unacceptable predictive values (46% when positive and 70% when negative). The false positive and negative rates were 47.2% and 36.4% respectively. A skilled cytologist using conventional Papanicolaou staining gave a much more accurate interpretation of the benign or malignant nature of the aspirates than did Cal antibody binding.
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D013194:Staining and Labeling
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal