Fluorescence in situ hybridization of ductal lavage samples identifies malignant phenotypes from cytologically normal cells in women with breast cancer.

Background: Ductal lavage (DL) does not routinely identify cytologically malignant cells. For this study, the authors asked whether molecular analyses of DL specimens from women with cancer would identify abnormal cells, even if they appeared cytologically normal.

Methods: DL was performed and yielded fluid in 29 of 45 consenting women who were undergoing breast cancer surgery.