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Breast cancer is a serious health care problem, since it is the most common type of cancer in women and a leading cause of death from cancer. A diagnostic approach using triple assessment of breast cancer has been introduced in many institutions worldwide, including Slovenia. It encompasses clinical examination, mammography and fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB), which allows the aspiration of cells from the tumor. Malignancy is assessed by light microscopic evaluation of FNAB samples. Additional knowledge and experience enable one to further type the tumor, which in combination with its size, grade and stage helps prognosticate the disease. The FNAB of regional lymph nodes or imaging guided FNAB of parenchymal lesions help define the stage of the disease. Using ancillary methods, above all immunocytochemistry, new prognostic and predictive factors can be assessed, for example hormone receptors, Ki-67, Her-2 and others.