COMPARISON OF FTNE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY AND EXCISIONAL BIOPSY OF BREAST LESIONS

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluatc the sensitivity and specificity of fine-needle aspiration cytology as
compared to excisional biopsy of breast lesions of the same subjects and ascertain the
usefulness of the methnd as diagnostic prmedure.
Design: A prospective comparative study of fine-needle, aspiration, cytology and excisional
biopsy of breast lesions.
Subjects: One hundred and two patients with palpable breast lesion.
Results: Fine-needle aspiration cytology as a routine method in the management of breast
diseases was cun~prred to excisional biopsy of the same patients. Sixteen patients I1 5.7 %)
had carcinoma of ihe breast and 86 (84.3%) cases were found to have fibroadenomas of the
breast. The sensitivity was 94.3% and the specificity was 78.670. The positive and negative
predictive values were 68.8 YO and 96.5 % respectively. There were three raise positive and
false negative cases.
Conclusion: The high sensitivity and specificity results, obtained ascertains that Fine needle
aspiration cytology is the most reliable diagnostic method. Its cheapness and respectable
diagnostic value makes it indispensable for preoperative breast lesion diagnosis.