Multivariate analysis of prognostic features in malignant pleural effusions from breast cancer patients.

To identify prognostic indicators in breast cancer patients with malignant pleural effusions, we analyzed the cytopathologic features of 57 fluids representing the first pathologic diagnosis of a distant metastasis in these women. The specimens were analyzed prior to reviewing the clinical records. The median survival of 55 patients who died of the disease was five months following the effusion diagnosis (range, 1-114).

Immunostaining of small cytologic specimens. Facilitation with cell transfer.

Immunocytochemical study of cytologic specimens is often limited by the number of slides containing diagnostic cells. This study examined the effectiveness of transferring cells from a single smear to multiple slides in order to perform a battery of immunocytochemical stains on limited material. Immunostaining performed on four effusions and five fine needle aspirates yielded the expected results for most of the antibodies commonly employed in diagnostic pathology.