USEFULNESS OF ULTRASOUND-GUIDED, FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSY FOR PALPABLE BREAST-TUMORS

Objective: To investigate whether ultrasound (US) guidance improves th e sensitivity of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in patients with palpable breast tumors. Design: A retrospective study. Setting: A uni versity hospital. Patients: A total of 107 patients with breast tumors (114 lesions) underwent US-guided FNAB and 138 patients (143 lesions) underwent FNAB guided by palpation (standard FNAB). Main Outcome Meas ures: The diagnoses obtained by FNAB were compared with the surgical f indings and the diagnostic value of US-guided FNAB was evaluated. Resu lts: The sensitivity of US-guided FNAB was 89.3%, the specificity was 82.9%, and the accuracy was 86.9%. In contrast, the sensitivity of sta ndard FNAB was 61.1%, the specificity was 73.3%, and the accuracy was 65.0%. For breast tumors 2.0 cm or less in diameter, the sensitivity a nd accuracy of US-guided FNAB were significantly higher than those of standard FNAB. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided FNAB can improve the preo perative diagnosis of breast cancer, especially in patients with tumor s that are 2 cm or less in diameter.