Expansion of Masood's cytologic index for breast carcinoma and its validity

Feasibility of Masood's cytological index for screening breast lesions in low resource setting

Fine needle aspiration cytology has long been an accepted diagnostic modality in combination with physical examination and mammography to investigate breast lesions. In the present era, more proficient methods such as stereotactic mammographically guided breast biopsy is the preferred choice, however, in low resource setting, FNAC still remains the most cost effective and sampling modality to diagnose breast cancer. With the intention to evaluate the efficacy and limitations of FNAC in evaluation of breast lesions in low resource setting, we employed the Masood's cytological staging system to stratify the breast lesions and correlate them with histopathology wherever possible. All breast lesions aspirates were analyzed and classified according to the Masood's cytological scoring system and correlated with histopathological findings wherever adequate material was available. A total of 776 patients were studied of which 23 aspirates were unsatisfactory, 120 aspirates were categorized as inflammatory breast disease. Six hundred and thirty-three cases were classified according to Masood's cytological system. Nonproliferative breast diseases (Group I) encompassed maximum cases with 55% followed by carcinoma in situ and invasive cancers (Group IV) with 39% and proliferative breast disease without atypia (Group II) and with atypia (Group III) which had equal number of cases constituting 2.4% each. Cyto-histopathological correlation done in 102 cases revealed 100% concordance in group IV and 75% concordance in group III while it could not be performed in Group I and II as no histopathological specimen was available in those patients. Masood Cytological grading for breast aspirates is a reliable and an easily reproducible system which can be used to formulate appropriate treatment protocols in cases presenting with breast lesions.

Cytological Scoring of Breast Lesions and Comparison with Histopathological Findings

Context

Cytological assessment using various morphological parameters helps segregate breast lesions in fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) into different categories. The prognosis and the line of management of each category differ accordingly.

Aims

This study aims at assessing the validity of Modified Masood's Scoring Index (MMSI) by the evaluation of cytomorphological features of various breast lesions compared with histopathological findings.

Settings and Design

This is a cross-sectional study done in 65 female patients with palpable or nonpalpable breast lesions, undergoing FNAC and biopsy over a period of 18 months from December 1, 2012, to May 31, 2014.

Materials and Methods

MMSI categorizes breast lesions, based on six cytological parameters into different categories such as nonproliferative breast disease (NPBD), proliferative breast disease (PBD) without atypia, PBD with atypia, and malignancy. The findings are compared with gold standard histopathological diagnosis.

Statistical Analysis Used

Percentage of agreement, Kappa statistics, and Chi-square test.

Results

Of the total 65 cases, all cases in MMSI category I and IV showed good histopathological correlation. The agreement between MMSI and histopathology was 93.8% which is more when compared with 72.3% agreement between cytology without scoring and histopathology. MMSI has increased the diagnostic accuracy of FNAC to 93.8% from 80%.

Conclusion

The scoring system is easily reproducible, simple, and reliable. MMSI proved good histopathological correlation in category I and IV. This scoring technique has clearly demarcated those cases requiring surgical management. It is applicable for palpable and nonpalpable cases.

Invasive Papillary Carcinoma of the Male Breast Misdiagnosed as Fibroadenoma on FNAB

Male breast cancers constitute less than 1% of all the breast cancers. Papillary carcinoma is a very rare tumour of the male breast. Due to rarity, Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNAB) findings of papillary carcinoma in male breast are seldom reported. A 55-year-old male presented with a lump in the left breast of two years' duration. FNAB was reported as fibroadenoma. Histopathological examination of the excised breast lump revealed invasive papillary carcinoma. Immunohistochemistry showed expression of pancytokeratin, oestrogen receptor, and progesterone receptor. Negative immunostaining was seen for HER2, p53, 34βE12, and CD34. Ki-67 proliferative index was 5%. We have discussed cytological findings of invasive papillary carcinoma and its differential diagnoses. Cytopathologists must be aware of cytologic findings of invasive papillary carcinoma of the male breast.

Highly variable cancer subpopulations that exhibit enhanced transcriptome variability and metastatic fitness

Individual cells within a tumour can exhibit distinct genetic and molecular features. The impact of such diversification on metastatic potential is unknown. Here we identify clonal human breast cancer subpopulations that display different levels of morphological and molecular diversity. Highly variable subpopulations are more proficient at metastatic colonization and chemotherapeutic survival. Through single-cell RNA-sequencing, inter-cell transcript expression variability is identified as a defining feature of the highly variable subpopulations that leads to protein-level variation. Furthermore, we identify high variability in the spliceosomal machinery gene set. Engineered variable expression of the spliceosomal gene SNRNP40 promotes metastasis, attributable to cells with low expression. Clinically, low SNRNP40 expression is associated with metastatic relapse. Our findings reveal transcriptomic variability generation as a mechanism by which cancer subpopulations can diversify gene expression states, which may allow for enhanced fitness under changing environmental pressures encountered during cancer progression.

Phenotypic and genetic intra-tumor heterogeneity have an important role in cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. Here, the authors show that phenotypically variable tumor subpopulations exhibit higher metastatic potential and display enhanced intra-clonal transcriptomic variability, likely promoted by deregulated spliceosome activity.