Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Evaluation of Trucut Biopsies of Breast Lesions

Background: Trucut (core needle) biopsy is a minimally invasive and effective diagnostic tool for evaluating breast lesions. It not only facilitates histopathological classification but also enables immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis which is essential for therapeutic decision making in breast carcinoma. This study aimed to assess the histopathological spectrum of breast lesions diagnosed on trucut biopsy and correlate the findings with IHC profiles. The objective is to evaluate the histopathological features of breast lesions on trucut biopsy and to assess the immunohistochemical expression of ER, PR, HER2 in malignant tumors with clinicopathological correlation. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 50 patients with breast lesions undergoing trucut biopsy. Histological classification was done using H&E stained sections. IHC staining for ER, PR and HER2 was performed on all malignant cases. Data were analysed for age distribution, lesion type and marker expression. Results: Of 50 cases, 15 (30%) were benign and 35 (70%) malignant. The most common benign lesion was fibroadenoma (60% of benign cases) while invasive ductal carcinoma was the predominant malignancy (94.3%). Benign lesions occurred most frequently in the age group of 30-40 years (mean age 36.2 years) while malignant lesions were more common in the age group of 50-60 years (mean age 55.6 years). Among malignant tumors ER was positive in 68.6%, PR in 57.1%, HER2 in 17.1%. Triple negative breast cancer were seen in 14.3% of malignant cases. Conclusion: Trucut biopsy proves to be a reliable diagnostic modality for breast lesions, allowing for early histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation. The correlation of IHC markers with histological findings highlights its utility in subclassifying breast carcinomas and guiding treatment strategies. However, limitations such as sample size and tumor heterogeneity may affect diagnostic yield.

Keywords: Breast lesions, Trucut biopsy, Histopathology, Immunohistochemistry, ER, PR, HER2, Triple-negative breast cancer.