title: [Diagnostic value and health economic evaluation of ultrasound-combined fine-needle aspiration cytology in primary breast cancer].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the diagnostic value and health economic evaluation of ultrasound-combined fine-needle aspiration cytology for axillary lymph node status in breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed retrospectively collected the data from 2503 cases of biopsy-proved breast cancer (T0-2) at our breast center between May 2005 and June 2010. The diagnostic fees of ultrasound-combined fine-needle aspiration cytology and clinical examination were calculated and assessed with cost-minimization analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ultrasound-combined fine-needle aspiration cytology prevented 10.9 percent of the patients with positive clinical findings from unnecessary sentinel lymph node biopsy and achieved a saving of 155.55 RMB per patient. However, only 29.4 percent of the cases were diagnosed with ultrasonographic abnormal axillary nodes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound-combined fine-needle aspiration cytology has great application values. The ultrasonic diagnostic criteria of abnormal axillary nodes should be loosened.
authors: Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis & Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Breast Center, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China.
authors: Ying-jian
authors: YJ
authors: He
authors: Jin-feng
authors: JF
authors: Li
authors: Tian-feng
authors: TF
authors: Wang
authors: Yun-tao
authors: YT
authors: Xie
authors: Zhao-qing
authors: ZQ
authors: Fan
authors: Tao
authors: T
authors: Ouyang
mesh_terms: D001365:Axilla; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000191:economics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods