Comparison of fine-needle aspiration cytology and core biopsy for diagnosis of breast cancer

Both fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology and core biopsy are useful in th e diagnosis of breast cancel: In order to compare the sensitivities of thes e procedures, we reviewed 209 patients with breast cancer who had either FN A, core biopsy, or both, and also either mastectomy or lumpectomy. Sensitiv ities for FNA and core biopsies for diagnosing breast cancer were calculate d and compared. Sensitivity for FNA or core biopsies interpreted as either atypical or malignant was 93.8% for FNA and 90.1% for core biopsy (P > 0.05 ). Sensitivity for. FNA or core biopsies interpreted as malignant was 65.4% for FNA and 88.7% for core biopsy (P < 0.0001). Sensitivities of FNA inter preted as either atypical or malignant were 92.4% for FNA performed by path ologists and 100% for FNA by nonpathologists (P > 0.05). Sensitivities of F NA interpreted as malignant were 75.8% for FNA by pathologists and 20.0% fo r FNA by nonpathologists (P < 0.00001). Both FNA and core biopsies are sens itive procedures Sol the detection of breast cancer. There M,as no signific ant difference between. sensitivity of FNA and col e biopsies interpreted a s either atypia or malignancy, although the sensitivity of core biopsies in terpreted as unequivocal malignancy was greater than that of FNA. FNAs perf ormed by pathologists were more sensitive than FNAs performed by nonpatholo gists in making an unequivocal diagnosis of breast cancer (C) 2001 Wiley-Li ss, Inc.