title: Accuracy of fine-needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of breast cancer a single-center retrospective study from Turkey with cytohistological correlation in 733 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The triple test, i.e., cytology combined with clinical and radiological findings, is the goal for accurate assessment of palpable breast lesions. Because of the limitations of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), its utility has somewhat decreased nationwide. We have been using a combination of physical examination, radiological modalities, and FNAC for the diagnosis of palpable/nonpalpable breast mass lesions for the last 23 years. Our institutional experience of the last 10 years is presented here, using FNAC of breast lesions along with an analysis of the diagnostic accuracy.
  
  
  METHODS
  4956 breast aspirates in 4860 cases were collected from the computer database of Haydarpasa Numune Education and Research Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey. Most of the FNACs were performed under ultrasound guidance and FNAC procedures were performed by radiologists and pathologists who used 22 gauge needles. Cytological diagnoses were classified as "unsatisfactory", "benign", "malignant", "atypical/probably benign", "atypical/probably malignant", and "atypical/NOS" (not otherwise specified) and were compared to the histopathological diagnoses obtained from core needle biopsy, lumpectomy or mastectomy to give an assessment of the diagnostic performance of FNAC in 733 aspirates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive value, false positive, and false negative rates of FNAC were 98.02, 90.58, 95.97, 96.48, 94.54, 2.6, and 1.4%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study once again shows that FNAC is a reliable method for the initial evaluation and diagnosis of breast masses. In case of any suspicious conditions, FNAC, and core biopsy are considered complementary to one another.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Haydarpaşa Numune Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fügen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aker
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Haydarpaşa Numune Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gülistan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gümrükçü
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Haydarpaşa Numune Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Burcu Çelik
authors.initials: BÇ
authors.lastname: Onomay
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Haydarpaşa Numune Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erkan
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Haydarpaşa Numune Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Günay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gürleyik
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Haydarpaşa Numune Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gamze
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kiliçoğlu
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Haydarpaşa Numune Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hikmet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karagüllü
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014421:Turkey
keywords: breast; efficacy; fine-needle aspiration cytology