title: The role of fine needle aspiration cytology in the differential diagnosis of suspected breast cancer local recurrences.
abstract: The authors report on 228 cases of suspected breast cancer local recurrences studied by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). The nature (malignant = 133, benign = 95) of suspected lesions was assessed on histology (no. = 46) or according to unequivocal follow-up (no. = 182). Inadequacy rate was 0.20, 0.09 or 0.35 in total, cancer or benign cases, respectively, and was particularly high (0.50) for benign chest wall lesions. Accuracy was determined on adequate smears; dubious reports were assumed as positive. Sensitivity and specificity were 0.96 and 0.97, respectively. The routine use of FNAC is recommended since it helps in the differential diagnosis of suspicious cases and may bypass surgical biopsy of positive cases not eligible for surgical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Centro per lo Studio e la Prevenzione Oncologica, Firenze, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ciatto
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bravetti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cecchini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grazzini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iossa
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cariaggi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bulgaresi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Confortini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pacini
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis*