STEREOTAXIC FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY OF NONPALPABLE BREAST-LESIONS - AN ANALYSIS OF 258 CONSECUTIVE ASPIRATES

BACKGROUND: The role of stereotactic fine-needle aspiration cytology ( SFNAC) in the diagnosis of nonpalpable breast lesions is poorly define d. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were prospectively collected from 225 co nsecutive patients with nonpalpable breast lesions who had aspiration cytology followed by immediate surgical excision. RESULTS: Between 198 8 and 1993, 258 such procedures were performed. The results of 84 (33% ) were interpreted as benign, 84 (33%) as atypical, 28 (11%) as suspic ious for malignancy, and 49 (19%) as malignant. In all, 88 (34%) surgi cal specimens were malignant. SFNAC had an 80% sensitivity, a 96% spec ificity, a 91% positive predictive value, and an 89% negative predicti ve value. There were 18 false-negative and 7 false-positive aspirates. CONCLUSIONS: SFNAC for diagnosing nonpalpable breast lesions is moder ately sensitive and highly specific, and has a high positive and negat ive predictive value. In conjunction with mammography and clinical ass essment, the procedure is useful for determining which patients with n onpalpable breast lesions may require surgical biopsy.