Lack of utility in clinical practice of cytologic examination of nonbloodycyst fluid from palpable breast cysts

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to answer the following question: Does cytologic evaluation of nonbloody fluid aspirated from breast cysts contri bute to appropriate clinical management? STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of palpable breast cyst fluid cytologi c reports and associated medical records was undertaken to determine whethe r the cytologic findings affected patient management. Breast cyst size, flu id volume, fluid color, and patient age were abstracted from 689 medical re cords (1988-1999) of women whose palpable cysts had been aspirated at the B reast Diagnostic Center, Women's and Children's Hospital, Los Angeles. Thes e observations were correlated with the fluid cytologic reports. RESULTS: Except for frankly bloody fluid, all breast fluid cytologic report s listed the results as acellular, inadequate for cytologic diagnosis, or n o malignant cells identified. CONCLUSION: In clinical practice only frankly bloody fluid should be submit ted for cytologic analysis. All other cyst fluid should be discarded.