BREAST CYTOPATHOLOGY

Foreword
This fourth volume in the series Essentials in Cytopathology
revitalizes a topic that was considered headed for obsolescence
a few years ago. Breast aspiration cytopathology was
quickly being replaced by radiographically directed core
biopsies. A major reason for this paradigm shift was the
inability of breast fine-needle aspirates to predict the presence
or absence of invasion in nonpalpable lesions.
However, as discussed in the following pages, there are
multiple functions of a fine-needle aspirate beyond defining
and staging a patient’s primary lesion. Determining definite
presence of metastases and recurrences is far more reliable
by fine-needle aspiration than by imaging techniques, although
the paired capabilities of imaging and aspiration can more
accurately sample suspicious lesions than either technique
alone.
On the horizon are molecular and genetic tests that will be
based on samples obtained by fine-needle aspiration. Establishment
of risk and tailored therapies will evolve from these
descriptors of the natural history of a neoplastic process.
After a half century of flat line progress against breast cancer,
fine-needle aspiration will predictably play a major role in
identifying personal risk factors and thereby controlling this
lethal disease.
The authors bring combined expertise from major cancer
centers where breast fine-needle aspiration is still utilized for
patient management. Their experiences are now available in
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