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Table 3 Comparison of cytology and biomarkers in paired studies

From: The intraductal approach to the breast: raison d'être

 

Cytology

Biomarker

 

Fluid collection

Sensitivity

Specificity

Assay

Sensitivity

Specificity

Ref.

Nipple discharge

33% palpable cases

NA

CEA immunoassay

75%

89%

[42]

 

14% nonpalpable cases

NA

 

80%

89%

 

Nipple discharge/ductography, milking/washing ducts with saline

30%

100%

LOH-PCR

70%

83%

[73]

ROBE

ICMD/no malignant cytology

ICMD/no malignant cytology

MSP

85%, 29% DCIS

80%

[51]

Lavage

33%

89%

FISH

100%

100%

[70]

Lavage

47%

79%

FISH

71%

89%

[39]

NAF

59%

NA

MSP

82%

100%

[43]

Lavage

31%

100%

SELDI-TOF MS

75%

NA

[41]

  1. Comparison of cytology and biomarkers in paired studies in which breast fluids were collected presurgically from women scheduled for excisional breast biopsies or mastectomies. Sensitivities reflect the detection of invasive and/or ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), except when noted. CEA, carcinoembryonic antigen; FISH, fluorescence in situ hybridization; ICMD, insufficient cells to make a diagnosis; LOH-PCR, PCR-based loss of heterozygosity; MSP, methylation-specific PCR; NA, not available; NAF, nipple aspirate fluid; ROBE, routine operative breast endoscopy; SELDI-TOF MS, surface-enhanced laser desorption and ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry.