Year: 2026 | Month: April | Volume: 16 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 112-116
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20260415
Significance and Diagnostic Utility of Micronucleus Scoring on Breast Cytology Smears
Mamta1, Padam Parmar2, Laxmi Aheer3, Anand Raj Kalla4
1,3Assistant Professor, 4Senior Professor,
Department of Pathology, Dr S.N. Medical College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
2Consultant Pathologist, Ncure Imaging and Diagnostic, Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
Corresponding Author: Dr. Mamta
ABSTRACT
Background: Micronucleus (MN) is an indicator of chromosomal damages and genetic instability and scoring helps in diagnosis of difficult cases of malignancy. We scored the micronucleus in breast FNA cytology smears and attempted to classify malignant lesions from borderline grey zone breast cases.
Materials and Methods: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) smears from breast Lump (n=191) in an interval of 1 year was evaluated with excluding criteria. Giemsa stained smears were evaluated for counting the MN in 1000 breast epithelial cells with using oil immersion lens. The mean score for the benign, atypical hyperplasia and carcinomas cases was compared. One‑way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for data analysis, and the P value < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant.
Result: The total of 98 cases of breast lump including 59-fibroadenoma, 10-atypical ductal hyperplasia and 29- carcinoma breast was evaluated for MN scoring. Remaining, 93 cases were excluded. Mean score of benign, atypical and malignant cases was 0.10±0.31, 3.10±2.72 and 6.21±3.22 respectively. Difference of scoring and high scoring in malignant cases were statistically significant (ANOVA, p-value=<0.001). Cut-off value ≥ 3.50, then the case is malignant with 86.2% Sensitivity and 70% of Specificity.
Conclusion: Micronucleus scores higher in malignant category and may be used as additional criteria in the diagnosis of difficult breast lesions on FNA smears.
Key words: Micronucleus, Breast smears, grey zone.