Diagnostic value of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy, core-needle biopsy, and evaluation of combined use in the diagnosis of breast lesions.
BACKGROUND
To investigate whether ultrasound-guided core-needle biopsy (US-CNB) has more diagnostic value for breast tumors than ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (US-FNAB) and to evaluate their combined use in patients with breast tumors.


METHODS
US-FNAB was carried out in 233 patients with breast tumors (254 lesions); both US-FNAB and US-CNB (combined biopsy) were performed in 81 of these patients (82 lesions). The diagnosis obtained by US-FNAB and US-CNB was compared with the surgical findings and the diagnostic value of US-CNB and combined biopsy were retrospectively evaluated.


RESULTS
The sensitivity of US-FNAB was 86.9%, the specificity was 78.6%, and the accuracy was 84%. In contrast, the sensitivity of US-CNB was 86.2%, the specificity was 95.8%, and the accuracy was 89%. The specificity of US-CNB was significantly higher than that of US-FNAB and the inadequate biopsy rate of US-CNB was significantly lower than that of US-FNAB. For combined biopsy, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were all 100%. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of combined biopsy were significantly higher than those of US-FNAB.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that US-CNB is more useful than US-FNAB, and that a combination of US-CNB and US-FNAB can markedly improve the preoperative diagnosis of breast cancer.
Hatada
T
T
The Second Department of Surgery, Hyogo College of Medicine, Japan.
Ishii
H
H
Ichii
S
S
Okada
K
K
Fujiwara
Y
Y
Yamamura
T
T
D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography