AbstractBackground: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is applied as the primary tool for the diagnosis in breast masses because of its ease and rapidity. However, it is a largely subjective tool.
The morphological overlap among the sequential lesions from the precancerous group to frank carcinoma further cause “gray zone” in cytology, estimated to constitute 8.9%. Morphometry is the measurement of cell parameters microscopically by image analysis. The present study has been undertaken to evaluate role of nuclear morphometry in benign and malignant breast neoplasms. Aim: To classify breast lumps according to guidelines given by UK National Health Service Breast Screening Program (NHSBSP) and to compare the nuclear morphometry among those categories. Setting and design: A retrospective-prospective study. Material and Methods: Cases with palpable breast lumps were evaluated by FNAC and were cytologically classified according to UKNHSBSP guidelines. Nuclear Morphometric parameters: nuclear area, perimeter, long and short axis and diameter were studied and compared within the various categories. Statistical Analysis used: Student’s t test was used as the test of significance. Result: Mean age was 37.7 years. 47.3% cases belonged to Category C2 (benign), 6.8% cases to Category
C3 (atypia probably benign), 17.6% cases Category C4 (suspicious of malignancy) and 27% belonged to Category C5 (malignant). The nuclear morphometric parameters including nuclear area, perimeter, short axis, long axis and diameter were found to be statistically significant (p<0.05) in differentiating between benign and malignant categories. Conclusion: Nuclear morphometry serves as a valuable method in distinguishing benign and malignant breast aspirates and also correlates well with the cytological categories.