J Korean Surg Soc.  2000 Jul;59(1):1-7.

Diagnostic Efficacy of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology, Mammography, and Ultrasonography for a Palpable Breast Mass

• Kim JH
• Jung SH

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was done to determine the diagnostic efficacy of clinical examination, fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology, mammography, and ultrasonography in palpable breast mass. METHODS: We performed 248 FNA cytologies for a palpable breast mass, among which 106 cases were histologically examined during the period from Jan. 1994 to Dec. 1997 at the Department of Surgery, Chonbuk National University Hospital. Among the 106 patients, mammography was done for 96 patients, and ultrasono graphy for 73 patients. RESULTS: The main clinical symptom was a palpable mass in the breast at the time of visitation. Clinical diagnosis based on symptoms and physical examination had a sensitivity of 96.9% and a specificity of 57.5%. Based on a definite histologic diagnosis, the sensitivity of FNA cytology was 96.9%, its specificity was 91.7%, and its diagnostic accuracy 93.5%. 86.1% of the cytologically malignant cases proved to be malignant histologically, and 100% of the cytologically benign cases turned out histologically benign. Mammography had a sensitivity of 89.3%, a specificity of 84%, and a diagnostic accuracy of 86.8%. Ultrasonography showed a 93.5% sensitivity, a 51.4% specificity, and a 74.6% diagnostic accuracy. CONCLUSION: FNA cytology was a reliable and safe diagnostic method compared to physical examination, mammography, and ultrasonography. FNA cytology of a palpable breast mass should be the diagnostic procedure of choice for those patients classified clinically as probably benign or malignant.

Keyword

Breast mass; FNA; Mammography; Ultrasonography

MeSH Terms

Biopsy, Fine-Needle*
Breast*
Diagnosis
Humans
Jeollabuk-do
Mammography*
Physical Examination
Sensitivity and Specificity
Ultrasonography*