The Role of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology and Needle Biopsy in Diagnosis of a Breast Mass.
- Author:
Jin Woo PARK
1
;
Jung Yeob LEE
;
Ro Hyun SUNG
;
Young Jin SONG
Author Information
1. Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Breast mass;
Fine needle aspiration cytology;
Needle biopsy
- MeSH:
Aspirations (Psychology);
Biopsy;
Biopsy, Fine-Needle*;
Biopsy, Needle*;
Breast*;
Chungcheongbuk-do;
Cost-Benefit Analysis;
Diagnosis*;
Diagnosis, Differential;
Humans;
Mastectomy;
Needles*;
Physical Examination;
Sensitivity and Specificity;
Ultrasonography
- From:Journal of the Korean Surgical Society
1999;57(2):189-195
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Needle biopsy and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) play an important role in the differential diagnosis of a palpable breast mass because of simplicity and cost effectiveness. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of needle biopsy and FNAC in the differentiation of a palpable breast mass by comparing their results with those of definite tissue diagnosis in our hospital. METHODS: This study included 74 patients who visited Chungbuk National University Hospital for a palpable breast mass from January 1997 to July 1998. Clinical diagnoses were made by history taking, physical examination, ultrasonography. Then, gun-biopsy and fine needle aspiration were done at the same time. Final diagnoses were obtained by an open biopsy or a mastectomy. RESULTS: Clinical diagnosis was highly sensitive in differentiation of malignant from benign disease (diagnostic sensitivity: 100%, specificity: 80.9%, accuracy: 87.8%). A diagnostic specimen was obtained on the first attempt in 87.8% of the fine needle aspirations and in 93.2% of the needle biopsies. Definite diagnoses, such as benign or malignant, were possible in 90.5% of the fine needle aspirations and in 97.3% of the needle biopsies. Considering these cases only, FNAC and needle bopsy were highly specific diagnostic tools for detection of malignant disease (In FNAC: diagnostic sensitivity: 85.7%, specificity: 100%, accuracy: 95.5%; In needle biopsy: diagnostic sensitivity: 88%, specificity: 100%, accuracy: 95.8%). The results of FNAC and the needle biopsy were identical in 87.8% of the cases. Two malignant cases were diagnosed as benign in both FNAC and needle biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: FNAC and needle biopsy showed high diagnostic accuracy. Thus, these procedures can be useful tools in differentiating between a benign or a malignant palpable breast mass before establishing a treatment strategy.
