title: A randomized controlled trial comparing a 21 G needle with a 23 G needle for fine needle aspiration of breast lumps.
abstract: A randomized study was performed on patients in whom the clinical decision 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. Following induction of anaesthetic, (local or general), FNAC was performed with either a 21 or 23 G needle. The breast lump was then excised and the histology and cytology results analysed routinely. One hundred and twenty-five excised breast lumps were included. Sixty-one had FNAC performed 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 difference between these two results. There is no difference in the cytological yield when a 21 G needle is compared with that of a 23 G needle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Peterborough District Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009339:Needles