EVALUATION OF PALPABLE BREAST LUMP BY FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY AT ALLAMA IQBAL TEACHING HOSPITAL, DERA GHAZI KHAN

Background: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is an important part of triple assessment in the diagnosis of a breast lump. It can differentiate the breast lesions in to benign, suspicious and malignant lesions. It can also identify the residual disease after treatment. This study aims to evaluate the frequency and distribution of various palpable breast lesions with FNAC. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study on palpable breast lump in female patients was carried out from Nov 2022 to Dec 2023 at the Pathology Department of DG Khan Medical College, Dera Ghazi Khan. All patients with history of breast lump were included. FNAC was done by standard procedures, smears prepared and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and examined under microscope. Results: A total of one hundred cases of breast lump were evaluated, out of which 70% were benign (C2), 1% atypical/suspicious but probably benign (C3), 2% suspicious but probably malignant (C4), and 27% cases were malignant (C5). Among benign breast lesions Fibroadenoma was the most common benign breast lesion (48%) followed by inflammatory breast lesions (10%). Fibrocystic disease of breast (7%) was third in frequency among the benign breast lesions. Conclusions: Fibroadenoma is the most common benign breast lesion among the young patients and malignant breast lesions are more common in old age patients. Pak J Physiol 2025;21(2):45-47, DOI: https://doi.org/10.69656/pjp.v21i2.1739