Evaluation of diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative cytology (touch imprint) in malignancy of breast masses

Due to the absence of frozen section in the majority of hospitals, malignant breast masses are being operated in two admissions first for biopsy and second for mastectomy. With simple and rapid technique of touch imprint (intraoperative cytology) both operations can be done in the same time. In this study the diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative cytology (touch imprint) in malignancy of breast masses is evaluated. During 2003 to 2006, reports of touch imprints of 70 patients with breast masses were compared to reports of their permanent section. Based on gathered data, positive and negative predictive value, sensitivity and specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratio of the test were determined. In 70 patients, 39 cases had malignant and 31 cases had benign masses. In 39 patients with malignant masses, 36 patients had malignant and 3 patients had benign cytologic reports. In 31 patients with benign masses 2 patients had malignant reports in cytology. Therefore sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of touch imprint in diagnosis of malignant breast masses were 92.3%, 93.5% and 92.9% respectively. Because of high specificity of touch imprint, it seems that this test can be done in centers that do not have frozen section for intraoperative diagnosis of malignant breast masses.