Is cytology useful in the diagnostic workup of male breast lesions? A retrospective study over a 16-year period and review of the recent literature

Abstract

Objective: To determine the value of cytology in the workup of male breast lesions, important for the management in a same-day breast clinic.

Study design: A total of 146 fine needle aspirations (FNAs) from the male breast were classified in the categories malignant, suspicious, atypical, benign and inadequate. Cytohistologic correlation was done.

Results: Histologic correlation was available in 85 cases. On FNA the 15 malignant cases were classified as malignant (n = 11), suspicious for malignancy (n = 2) or atypical (n = 2). Of the 35 benign lesions on histology 3 cases were classified as atypia and 1 as suspicious for malignancy on FNA. In the inadequate FNAs (n = 45), the corresponding histologic specimens were benign, no carcinomas were diagnosed. The sensitivity and specificity of the FNA compared to the definite resection diagnosis were 100% and 90.2%, respectively. The results were comparable with the outcomes of the reviewed studies on male breast lesions in the recent literature.

Conclusion: Based on the nature of the benign breast lesions in man, a substantial number of inadequate FNAs were obtained. However, due to the good cytohistologic correlations in the group of malignant lesions, we can conclude that cytology remains an important diagnostic tool in the initial workup of male breast carcinomas.