title: Fine needle aspiration cytology of male breast lesions - a retrospective study over a six year period.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) has a well-established role in the management of palpable breast lumps. However breast masses in males are rarely aspirated and hence there is limited cytopathologic experience. The aim of our study was to determine the efficacy of FNAC in the diagnosis of male breast lesions and also we attempted to describe the cytomorphological features of some of these lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on male breast FNAC done between 2008 to 2013 were retrieved from the records of the cytopathology laboratory. FNAC diagnosis were categorized as benign, malignant, suspicious for malignancy and inadequate or unsatisfactory. Cytohistologic correlation was done with data from histopathology records. Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy were calculated using standard statistical methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty out of 1098 patients undergoing breast FNAC were males. Histopathology was available in 8 (20%) out of 40 cases. There were no false positive or false negative diagnoses. FNAC had a sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of 100% for male breast lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FNAC is a very accurate tool for the diagnosis of male breast lesions. It is highly sensitive and specific with good cytohistologic correlation. To reduce the high rate of surgical biopsies of benign male breast masses, we conclude that FNAC should be performed as a standard procedure in the clinical evaluation of male breast lesions.
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Father Muller Medical College , Mangalore, India .
authors.forename: Kirana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pailoor
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Pathology, Father Muller Medical College , Mangalore, India .
authors.forename: Hilda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Pathology, Father Muller Medical College , Mangalore, India .
authors.forename: Jayaprakash
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cs
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Father Muller Medical College , Mangalore, India .
authors.forename: Nisha J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Marla
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Kasturba Medical College , Mangalore, India .
authors.forename: Murali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keshava S
keywords: Breast carcinoma; Gynecomastia; Male breast lesions