Diagnostic Accuracy of Touch Imprints in Neoplastic Breast Lesions Taking Histopathology as Gold Standard

Abstract

Objective: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of touch imprints for differentiation of benign
and malignant breast neoplasms taking histopathology as gold standard.
Methods: The study was conducted in the Department of Histopathology, Services Institute of
Medical Sciences, Lahore. Fresh mastectomy specimens of all patients undergoing elective
surgeries were examined. Specimen was bisected and touch imprints were made. The results
were confirmed with paraffin sections. The Histopathological examination acted as gold standard
for evaluating diagnostic accuracy of touch imprints.
Results: Cytohistological correlation revealed a sensivity of 96%, specificity of 95%, positive
predictive value of 96%, negative predictive value of 95% and diagnostic accuracy of 96% for
Touch imprints.
Conclusions: Touch imprint cytology is a very useful modality as it is less expensive, reliable,
cost effective and less time consuming. The diagnostic accuracy of TIC is comparable with that of
frozen section having diagnostic accuracy of 96%.