What constitutes an adequate smear in fine-needle aspiration cytology of the breast?

Based on the data gathered in this study, the authors believe that the sampling false-negative and unsatisfactory rates can be minimized by selecting a cutpoint for satisfactory smears at a level of 6 or more cell clusters (cumulative total) or the presence > or = 10 intact bipolar cells per 10 medium-power fields (x200). Use of these criteria will decrease the false-negative rate of sampling in epithelial lesions of the breast. A false-negative rate of approximately 1.5% was obtained in association with an unsatisfactory rate of 20.2%. Using a cutpoint of 1 or more cell clusters, a false-negative rate of 2.1%, associated with an unsatisfactory rate of 13.7%, was obtained.