Cd. Scopa et al., COMPARISON OF FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION AND TRU-CUT BIOPSY OF PALPABLE MAMMARY LESIONS, Cancer detection and prevention, 20(6), 1996, pp. 620-624
To assess the accuracy and predictive value of fine-needle aspiration
(FNA) cytology and Tru-Cut needle biopsy of palpable breast lesions, w
e studied 215 aspirates obtained from 209 patients and 120 tissue-core
biopsies taken from 109 patients. The FNA and Tru-Cut findings have b
een grouped as benign, malignant, suspicious, and nondiagnostic. Histo
logic confirmation was obtained in 103 aspirated and 102 biopsied case
s. Considering only cases with a definitive benign or malignant diagno
sis, the accuracy of FNA was 94%, while the sensitivity and specificit
y were 90 and 100%, respectively. The predictive value of a positive d
iagnosis (PV+) was 100% and the predictive value of a negative diagnos
is (PV-) was 86%. Likewise, the accuracy of Tru-Cut needle biopsy was
90% while the sensitivity and specificity were 89 and 100%, respective
ly. The PV+ was 100%, and the PV- was 58%. Our study suggests that FNA
cytology of the breast is a reliable diagnostic procedure and it shou
ld always be included in the preoperative diagnosis of breast tumors.