Hormone receptor levels and aspiration cytology in cancer of the breast.
The cytopathologic findings of 196 cases of cancer of the breast were correlated with the hormonal receptor levels. The strict cytologic criteria that allow a positive diagnosis to be used as bases for definitive treatment include adequate cellularity, lack of cohesion, and nuclear abnormalities, including increased nuclear size. On this basis, 58% of the carcinomas of the breast, including 62% of the 157 infiltrating duct carcinomas but none of 12 infiltrating lobular carcinomas, could be diagnosed by aspiration smears alone. Seventy-four per cent of the carcinomas were estrogen-receptor-positive. No correlation could be demonstrated between the cytologic pattern and diagnosis and the level of estrogen, progesterone, or androgen receptors, alone or in any combination.
D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000032:analysis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis
D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone