title: A comparison of trucut biopsy with fine needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of breast cancer.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Chia
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Poh
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: 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