title: Fine-needle aspiration cytology in the management of breast disease.
abstract: The results of a series of fine needle aspiration biopsies of breast lumps were reviewed to evaluate the accuracy of this diagnostic method and its place in the clinical management of breast lesions. A high level of diagnostic accuracy was achieved. There were no false positive diagnoses of malignancy and fewer than 3% of diagnoses were falsely negative. Eighty per cent of carcinomas could be confidently diagnosed by means of cytological investigation. The patient with a benign cytological diagnosis can either be reassured, or her surgical management planned as a day case. For the patient with a cytological diagnosis of malignancy, discussion of the nature of her surgery and subsequent care is possible before operation. In selected cases of carcinoma, mastectomy can be performed without frozen-section confirmation. Diagnostic accuracy is dependent upon experience, especially in aspiration technique, and optimum results are obtained if the pathologist/cytologist also performs the procedure.
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans