J Korean Surg Soc.  1999 Aug;57(2):189-195.

The Role of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology and Needle Biopsy in Diagnosis of a Breast Mass

• Park JW
• Lee JY
• Sung RH
• Song YJ

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.

Keyword

Breast mass; Fine needle aspiration cytology; Needle biopsy

MeSH Terms

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