Breast carcinomas with immunocytochemical detection of aromatase in fine-needle aspirates: Report of three cases

Three postmenopausal women with breast carcinoma underwent the fine-needle aspiration (FNA) preoperatively, and these specimens were stained by the an tiaromatase antibody. We evaluated the identification of the aromatase immu noreactivity in breast carcinoma specimens obtained from both FNA and surge ry. FNA specimens showed positive intracellular immunoreactivity of aromata se in these cases. The presence for aromatase in FNA specimens was identifi ed with that in the surgical specimens. To our knowledge, the present cases are the first to report the aromatase staining of FNA specimens. The immun oreactivity of aromatase in FNA specimen may be useful to estimate the effe ctiveness of new aromatase inhibitors in patients with breast carcinoma, Hu m PATHOL 32:348-351. Copyright (C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.