A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL COMPARING A 21 G NEEDLE WITH A 23 G NEEDLE FOR FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION OF BREAST LUMPS

A randomized study was performed on patients in whom the clinical deci sion had already been made to excise a breast lump. The objective was to assess the difference in diagnostic results of 21 and 23 G needles in the fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of breast lumps. Followi ng induction of anaesthetic, (local or general), FNAC was performed wi th either a 21 or 23 G needle. The breast lump was then excised and th e histology and cytology results analysed routinely. One hundred and t wenty-five excised breast lumps were included. Sixty-one had FNAC perf ormed with a 21 G needle and 64 had FNAC performed with a 23 G needle. Of the 61 21 G FNAC, histology revealed 45 breast cancers. Of the 64 23 G FNAC, 50 patients had breast cancer. There was no statistical dif ference between these two results. There is no difference in the cytol ogical yield when a 21G needle is compared with that of a 23 G needle.