Abstract
The cytopathologic findings of 196 cases of cancer of the breast were correlated with the hormonal receptor levels. The strict cytologic criteria that allow a positive diagnosis to be used as bases for definitive treatment include adequate cellularity, lack of cohesion, and nuclear abnormalities, including increased nuclear size. On this basis, 58% of the carcinomas of the breast, including 62% of the 157 infiltrating duct carcinomas but none of 12 infiltrating lobular carcinomas, could be diagnosed by aspiration smears alone. Seventy-four per cent of the carcinomas were estrogen-receptor-positive. No correlation could be demonstrated between the cytologic pattern and diagnosis and the level of estrogen, progesterone, or androgen receptors, alone or in any combination.

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