Cytologic grading of invasive breast carcinoma - Correlation with clinicopathologic variables and predictive value of nodal metastasis

OBJECTIVE: To estimate cytologic grade and correlate it with the other know n prognostic factors, such as tumor differentiation, growth fraction, estro gen receptor status and nodal status. STUDY DESIGN: Fine needle aspirates front 104 invasive ductal carcinomas we re stained by the Papanicolaou method and examined for necrosis, cellular s ize, nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, nuclear pleomorphism, nucleoli, chromatin g ranularity and density of chromatin. We established a semiquantitative scor ing system based on the above features and correlated cytologic findings wi th clinicopathologic variables. RESULTS: Histologic grade correlated positively with cytologic grade and ne gatively with estrogen receptor positivity. Moreover, high cytologic grade was associated with nodal metastasis and proliferative index labeling by MI B-1. CONCLUSION: This study showed that our grading system for breast cancer on fine needle aspiration cytology is feasible on a routine diagnostic basis. Cytologic grading can provide more information than usual on tumor biologic behavior.