Cost savings associated with the use of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) for the diagnosis of palpable masses in a community hospital-based FNAB clinic.
BACKGROUND
Generally, it is assumed that fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) for the diagnosis of superficial, palpable masses is a less expensive alternative to diagnostic open surgical biopsy; however, to the authors' knowledge few studies to date have sought to quantify the number of diagnostic surgical procedures avoided and cost savings involved. In this article, the authors report their experience with 664 FNAB procedures that were performed by a cytopathologist/cytotechnologist team practicing in a community setting.


METHODS
Records from a total of 664 consecutive FNAB cases from 607 patients who underwent FNAB in a community hospital-based FNAB clinic between 2003 and 2005 were reviewed retrospectively, and follow-up data were obtained.


RESULTS
Surgery was averted entirely as a result of the FNAB in 83% or 505 of 609 cases with follow-up available. The FNAB procedure was highly accurate and considerably less expensive than surgical biopsy.


CONCLUSIONS
For patients who presented with palpable masses, FNAB was a reliable, cost-effective initial method for obtaining a tissue diagnosis.
Florentine
Barbara D
BD
Department of Pathology, Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, Valencia, California 91355, USA. florentibd@henrymayo.com
Staymates
Barry
B
Rabadi
Munif
M
Sarda
Nayibe
N
Barstis
John
J
Black
Alexander
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle / Q000191:economics*; D002140:California; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017046:Cost Savings; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000191:economics; D012189:Retrospective Studies