Comparison of diagnostic accuracy of touch imprint cytology and frozen section techniques in detecting breast malignancies

Abstract

Objective: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of touch imprint cytology and frozen section in the diagnosis of malignant breast lumps keeping histopathological diagnosis as the gold standard.

Methods: The cross-sectional validation study was conducted at Foundation University Medical College, Islamabad, from February 2011 to February 2012, and comprised patients undergoing mastectomy/lumpectomy. The specimens were collected from the operation theatre of Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi. After tissue fixation, three representative sections were processed and the slides were stained with haematoxylin and eosin stain. The person analysing touch imprint cytology slides was blinded to the frozen section and histopathological slide results and vice-versa. Data was analysed using SPSS 17.

Results: Out of 76 patients with a mean age of 49±15.14 years, 61(80%) were diagnosed with malignant breast diseases. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and true positives of touch imprint cytology were 96.72%, 100%, 100%, 88.24% and 96.72% respectively. The corresponding values of the frozen section were 100% each. The diagnostic accuracy calculated for touch imprints and frozen section was 97.37% and 100% respectively.

Conclusions: The diagnostic accuracy of frozen section was better than touch imprint cytology in rapid intra-operative diagnosis. However, touch imprints can safely be used as an alternative intra-operative procedure to ensure satisfactory results.

Keywords: Frozen section, Breast cancer, Accuracy, Sensitivity, Specificity..