A comparison of trucut biopsy with fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Carcinoma of the breast is common in Singapore and many patients may present with just a suspicious breast lump.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and trucut biopsy in the diagnosis of suspicious breast lumps in an outpatient setting.


METHODS
A total of 39 women, from May 1995 to November 1995, who had a suspicious breast lump were subjected to concurrent FNAC and trucut biopsy.


RESULTS
The accuracy of FNAC is 90% whereas trucut biopsy is 67%, the difference being statistically significant with a p < 0.02.


CONCLUSIONS
FNAC is recommended for the diagnosis of suspicious breast lumps.
Yong
W S
WS
Department of General Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Chia
K H
KH
Poh
W T
WT
Wong
C Y
CY
D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000473:pathology; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D003557:Phyllodes Tumor / Q000473:pathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012846:Singapore; D016037:Single-Blind Method