Cytological grading of breast cancers and comparative evaluation of two grading systems

Aim: To evaluate and compare the cytograding of breast cancers using Robinson′s and Mouriquand′s grading methods. Materials and Methods: A 5-year retrospective (from Oct 2000 to Sept 2005) and 1-year prospective study (from Oct 2005 to Oct 2006). A total of 110 fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) cases of breast cancers were studied. These were graded according to Robinson′s and Mouriquand′s grading methods (grade I-III) followed by comparison of the two methods. Results: Of the 110 cases graded according to Robinson′s method, 28 (25.45%) cases were grade I, 46 (41.81%) grade II, and 36 (32.72%) were grade III, whereas using Mouriquand′s grading methods, 28 (25.45%), 42 (38.18%), and 40 (36.36%) cases were graded as grade I, II, and III, respectively. A high degree of concordance was observed between the two grading methods (90.9%). A highly significant relationship between the scores obtained by two methods was also observed (P=0.004). Conclusions: A comprehensive cytological grading of breast cancers is possible by using two different methods proposed by Robinson and Mouriquand. In spite of a high degree of concordance between the two methods, the Robinson′s grading system has been found to be easier and better because of more objective set of criteria and easy reproducibility.