Breast cancer (BC) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women worldwide, necessitating the development of innovative diagnostic and monitoring strategies. Liquid biopsy (LB), a minimally invasive approach that analyzes circulating tumor cells (CTCs), cell-free DNA (cfDNA), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), extracellular vesicles (EVs), and other tumor-derived biomarkers in body fluids, has emerged as a transformative tool in BC management. This review comprehensively explores the role of LB in early detection, disease monitoring, treatment stratification, and resistance surveillance in BC. We discuss the latest advancements in LB technologies, including next-generation sequencing (NGS), digital PCR, and single-cell analysis, highlighting their sensitivity and specificity. Additionally, we examine the clinical utility of LB in guiding personalized therapy, particularly in the context of hormone receptor-positive, HER2positive, and triple-negative BC subtypes. Despite its promise, several challenges, including standardization, validation, and integration into clinical practice, remain to be addressed. By summarizing current evidence and future directions, this review underscores the potential of LB to revolutionize BC diagnosis and treatment, paving the way for a more precise and dynamic approach to disease management.

Purpose: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers globally, with an increasing incidence rate. It is a heterogeneous disease, and early metastasis remains a challenge. Tumor budding, defined as single tumor cells or small clusters at the invasive front, has been suggested as a prognostic marker in various cancers, including breast cancer. This study aims to evaluate tumor budding in invasive breast carcinoma using the International Tumor Budding Consensus Conference (ITBCC) scoring system and explore its association with pathological characteristics and prognosis.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 100 mastectomy specimens of histopathologically confirmed invasive breast carcinoma, excluding cases that underwent chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Tumor budding was classified as low, intermediate, or high based on the ITBCC scoring method, and associations with clinicopathological features were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests.Results: Tumor budding was classified as high in 52% of cases. A significant association was found between high tumor budding and higher tumor grade (P<0.001), negative estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor status (P<0.001), positive HER2neu status (P=0.003), and high Ki-67 levels (P<0.001). High tumor budding was also linked to higher T stage, and dermal lymphovascular invasion (P=0.001). Our findings support previous studies showing that high tumor budding is associated with poor prognostic factors such as higher tumor grade, negative hormone receptor status, and higher T stage.Conclusion: Tumor budding is a potential prognostic marker in breast cancer, associated with more aggressive tumor characteristics.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health concern with diverse clinical manifestations. Parotid tuberculosis, although rare, presents diagnostic challenges due to its atypical presentation. Cytological examination is pivotal in diagnosing parotid lesions. We present three cases of parotid tuberculosis diagnosed through cytology. A 31-year-old male presented with a painless left parotid swelling. FNAC revealed granulomatous inflammation with AFB positivity. The second case, a 14-year-old female had an enlarging mass in the left parotid. FNAC showed granulomas, confirmed by GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay. The third case, a 39-year-old female presented with a painless swelling in the left parotid. FNAC demonstrated granulomatous inflammation, confirmed by mycobacterial culture. Cytological examination plays a crucial role in diagnosing parotid tuberculosis. These cases underscore the importance of considering TB in parotid masses. Collaboration among clinicians, radiologists, and cytopathologists is essential for accurate diagnosis and prompt management. Further research is needed to optimize diagnostic algorithms for parotid tuberculosis.