The value of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology of the breast: 354 cases with cytohistological correlation.

Background: Fine-needle aspiration cytology has a high rating in the assessment of breast lesions in many countries. We want to present the results of close cooperation between experienced radiologists and cytopathologists in the diagnosis of breast lesions.

Materials And Methods: Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) from 354 breast lesions assessed under ultrasound guidance were analysed retrospectively. Results from histological and clinical follow-up were compared to cytological results.

Results: Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, false-positive and false-negative fraction of FNAC were 90%, 100%, 100%, 90.0%, 0% and 4.63%, respectively. In comparison to other tests, FNAC proved to be a valuable tool to diagnose breast lesions. The "triple test", based on the combination of clinical, imaging and cytological findings, demonstrated increased sensitivity compared to single tests.

Conclusion: Summarizing, FNAC is a valuable tool for the diagnosis of breast lesions, especially as a part of the triple test. The method is inexpensive, not invasive and can provide a definitive and correct diagnosis for the majority of breast lesions.