title: Comparison between fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and core needle biopsy (CNB) in the diagnosis of breast lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the diagnostic accuracy of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and core needle biopsy (CNB) in patients with USdetected breast lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between September 2011 and May 2013, 3469 consecutive breast US examinations were performed. 400 breast nodules were detected in 398 patients. 210 FNACs and 190 CNBs were performed. 183 out of 400 (46%) lesions were surgically removed within 30 days form diagnosis; in the remaining cases, a six month follow up US examination was performed. Sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy, positive predictive (PPV) and negative predictive (NPV) values were calculated for FNAC and CNB.
  
  
  RESULTS
  174 out of 400 (43%) malignant lesions were found while the remaining 226 resulted to be benign lesions. 166 out of 210 (79%) FNACs and 154 out of 190 (81%) CNBs provided diagnostic specimens. Sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy, PPV and NPV of 97%, 94%, 95%, 91% and 98% were found for FNAC, and values of 92%, 82%, 89%, 92% and 82% were obtained for CNB. Sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy, PPV and NPV of 97%, 96%, 96%, 97% and 96% were found for FNAC, and values of 97%, 96%, 96%, 97% and 96% were obtained for CNB.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FNAC and CNB provide similar values of diagnostic accuracy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moschetta
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Telegrafo
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Carluccio
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Jablonska
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rella
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Serio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carrozzo
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Stabile Ianora
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Angelelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D062005:Biopsy, Large-Core Needle; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult