[Washing liquid cytology examination of operative wound in patients with breast tumor].
OBJECTIVES: To study the relation between exfoliated tumor cells in operative wound and clinical pathologic classification and to provide theory for killing exfoliated tumor cells in operation. METHOD: Washing liquid cytology examination of the operative wound was done in 262 patients with breast tumor. The relation between cytology examination and pathological classification was analyzed. RESULTS: In the 262 patients, exfoliated tumor cells were found in 63 patients, (24%). The detection rate in patients with I, II, III and IV stage was 5.3%, 27.1%, 79.3% and 100% respectively; The rate for T(1), T(2), T(3) stage was 6.1%, 18.9% and 51.3% respectively. The detection rate was 58.6% when the number of metastasis lymph node beyond 3; the rate was 14.3% and 14.1% respectively when the number below 3 or no lymphatic metastasis. CONCLUSION: The detection rate of exfoliated tumor cells is related to tumor advance, and it is necessary to kill exfoliated tumor cells in operation.