Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of breast cancer recurrence after mastectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To define the accuracy and clinical impact of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in diagnosing recurrent breast cancer after mastectomy.


METHODS
The results of ultrasonography (US) and US-guided FNAB of 175 lesions located at the mastectomy site or in the ipsilateral axilla were reviewed. The final diagnosis was recurrent cancer in 77 cases and benign lesion in 98 cases, as verified by histological examination (n = 77) or follow-up (n = 98).


RESULTS
FNAB yielded a representative aspirate in 92.6% of cases. The sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy of FNAB cytology were 96.1%, 89.8% and 92.6% respectively. US and FNAB cytology were complementary methods in recurrent cancer diagnosis. The cytologic examination increased the specificity of US. The only recurrent tumor which appeared benign both sonographically and cytologically was removed because of a suspicious finding at palpation. FNAB cytologic diagnosis was found to have a clinical impact in 92.2% of the recurrent cases.


CONCLUSIONS
US-guided FNAB provided an accurate adjunct to clinical examination and mammography for diagnosing and excluding breast cancer recurrence after mastectomy.
Rissanen
T J
TJ
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oulu University Central Hospital, Finland.
Apaja-Sarkkinen
M A
MA
Mäkäräinen
H P
HP
Heikkinen
M I
MI
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008408:Mastectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography