[Fine needle cytology ultrasound guide in breast disease. Personal experience].

Background: The authors present their experience of diagnostic technique performed with an ultrafine needle. This technique utilizes simple and economical instrumentation. The objectives of the present work are to: improve patient comfort and compliance; reduce the number of inadequate cells; demonstrate the validity of the diagnostic method used.

Methods: In our research, 137 cases of both benign and malignant disease were analyzed between January 1998 and April 2000. A further 118 cases, derived from our previous clinical trials, were added to these results. To achieve these objectives, the classic technique was modified using ultra-fine needles. In the present work, the results of the second trial are reported (January 1998 to April 2000) together with those from the first (January-December 1997).

Results: We have demonstrated that the technique with the ultra-fine needle is comparable to methods described in the world literature, and that the final results are equal to those of the major researchers.

Conclusions: The advantage of this method is to be found in the small number of inadequate cells produced, due to the simplicity of the execution and the instruments, to acceptability of the examination to the patients, and to the overall results, which are comparable to those of major researchers. The main disadvantage relates to the characteristics of the needle, which is fine and short, and therefore unsuitable for use with deeply-placed tumors.