Touch imprint cytology of core needle biopsy: An underused low-cost strategy for same-day breast cancer diagnosis in resource-limited settings.

This article evaluates the use of Touch Imprint Cytology (TIC) of core needle biopsies (CNB) as a rapid, accurate, and low-cost diagnostic method for breast cancer in a low-resource setting in Central India. TIC demonstrated high sensitivity (96.6%) and specificity (100%) for malignancy detection, enabling same-day diagnosis within 6–8 hours and initiation of neoadjuvant chemotherapy within 24 hours. The technique preserves tissue integrity for subsequent histopathology and can be integrated into existing workflows without additional invasive procedures, offering a pragmatic solution to reduce diagnostic delays common in low- and middle-income countries. The study's findings support TIC of CNB as a valuable adjunct to standard diagnostic practices, particularly for patients with locally advanced breast cancer.