Aspiration cytology and its relevance to the diagnosis of solid tumors of the breast.

There is a wide variance in the reported values for the diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytologic study and its role in the management of palpable lumps of the breast is controversial. For these reasons, the results of 350 aspirations of the breast performed at this unit were analyzed and the benefits of aspiration cytology were evaluated. The results were encouraging with a diagnostic accuracy rate of 95.0 per cent, a sensitivity rate of 74.0 per cent, a specificity rate of 99.6 per cent and a positive predictive value of 98.0 per cent. There was one false-positive result emphasizing that aspiration cytology must be used in combination with other indicants of the nature of a mammary lump. The sites and the age of presentation of both benign and malignant lesions of the breast were briefly examined. Limitations of this technique were also discussed. A positive FNA result may obviate the need for frozen section. FNA cytology has been found to be a useful and accurate adjunct in the diagnosis of the nature of mammary lumps and is now an integral part in the management of these patients in this unit.