Cytological patterns and biopsy correlation of breast lesions in rural and tribal female patients

• Author Details:   
• Shilpy Singh ^*
• Shaileshkumar Kanku Mane

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Background: Breast cancer remains the most prevalent malignancy among women worldwide, with rural and tribal populations disproportionately affected due to delayed diagnosis and limited access to care.

Novelty: This study provides one of the first comprehensive cytological evaluations of breast lesions among rural and tribal women in Maharashtra, India. It uniquely documents a high malignancy rate (54.9%), with a significant proportion (30.2%) occurring in women under 30 years, including four cases below 20 — findings rarely reported in Indian literature. Furthermore, it highlights the high diagnostic accuracy and reliability of FNAC (91.3% concordance) in a low-resource setting.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 350 women with palpable breast lumps from rural and tribal areas of Karjat between January and December 2024. FNAC results were classified according to the IAC Yokohama System and correlated with histopathology. Sensitivity, specificity, and concordance were calculated.

Results: Malignant lesions accounted for 54.9% of all cases. Concordance between FNAC and histopathology was 91.3%. Among malignant cases, 30.2% occurred in women below 30 years.

Conclusions: FNAC is a highly reliable diagnostic tool in resource-limited settings and reveals a concerning shift toward younger age at presentation in underserved populations. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted screening and awareness programs in rural and tribal communities.