Fine needle aspiration of male breast lesions.

OBJECTIVE

To describe a biinstitutional experience with fine needle aspiration (FNA) of breast lesions occurring in men over a period of over 10 years and to assess the role of FNA in detecting male breast cancer.

STUDY DESIGN

Computer patient records were searched from January 1990 to September 2007. Male patients who had a diagnosis of carcinoma on breast biopsy or resection were identified, and detailed chart review was done to assess demographics and correlate biopsy and FNA results.

RESULTS

A total of 346, 792 patients' charts were searched, and 217 male patients were found to have had a breast mass and subsequent FNA. Combined in both institutions, FNA results were positive for carcinoma in 12 (5.5%) cases, negative in 181 (83.4%) cases, suspicious in 5 (2.3%) cases, indeterminate/inconclusive in 3 (1.4%) cases and unsatisfactory in 16 (7.4%) cases. Matching biopsies to confirm FNA results were available in 26 (12%) of the 217 cases. The calculated sensitivity and specificity for the malignant cases reached 100%. When suspicious cases were calculated for diagnostic accuracy, the sensitivity was 67% and the specificity 100%.

CONCLUSION

This biinstitutional study demonstrates that FNA is a reliable but underutilized procedure for the management of male breast lesions.