Non-palpable breast lesions marked with coal suspension: evaluation of anatomopathological aspects, viability of interpretation and inflammatory response.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the efficiency of labeling impalpable breast lesions with inert charcoal suspension; to evaluate the morphological alterations associated with its use and to determine whether the use of charcoal labeling hampers the diagnostic interpretation of the pathologist.


METHODS
Was evaluated a total of 135 cases of impalpable breast lesions previously labeled with charcoal suspension. Histological H&E stained slides containing charcoal pigments were analyzed using optical microscopy, by which both quantitative and qualitative evaluations with regards to inflammatory response and interference in diagnosis were performed. Lymphocyte, giant cells and neutrophils were evaluated and quantified. Moreover, the distribution of the charcoal suspension present in the lesions was evaluated.


RESULTS
As to the quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the inflammatory response caused by the use of charcoal labeling, granulomas were present in all samples regardless of the quantity of injected charcoal. Lymphocytic inflammatory response was absent in only 5.19% of the samples, 82.22% exhibited discrete intensity and 12.59% were moderate. With regards to acute inflammatory response, 42.96% showed total absence of neutrophilic exudate, whereas 42.22% contained discrete and 11.11% moderate neutrophilic exudate, and only 3.7% of cases had intense neutrophilic exudate.


CONCLUSIONS
This study corroborates the utility and easiness of the charcoal method as a mean of efficient labeling of impalpable breast lesions; this technique is easy to use, has a low cost, high efficiency and does not interfere with the histological analysis. Moreover, it is comfortable for the patient and is of great help in finding and localizing the lesions for both the surgeon and pathologist.
Instituto de Pesquisas Médicas, Faculdade Evangélica do Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil. tcava@yahoo.com.br
Teresa Cristina Santos
TC
Cavalcanti
Osvaldo
O
Malafaia
Paulo Afonso Nunes
PA
Nassif
Thelma Larocca
TL
Skare
Daniel Cury
DC
Ogata
Marcelo Tizzot
MT
Miguel
Larissa Krüger
LK
Gomes
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D003031:Coal / Q000009:adverse effects; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010173:Palpation; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000379:methods; D013535:Suspensions; D055815:Young Adult
D003031:Coal; D013535:Suspensions