Fine needle aspiration cytology: its role in the management of breast tumours.

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is a cost-effective and clinically reliable tool in the management of breast tumours. This report summarizes the experience with 364 patients who had FNA of the breast. There was a total of 115 cancers of which 108 (93.9%) were diagnosed on FNA. There were no false positives amongst aspirates diagnosed as 'malignant'. Thirty-one patients had mastectomy with prior frozen section and nine had advanced or recurrent disease with no biopsy confirmation. FNA was 'suspicious of malignancy' in 12 patients of which 10 were malignant and two were benign on histology. There were 216 patients with 'benign' FNA and 28 FNA were 'unsatisfactory'. Biopsy confirmation was recommended in all clinically malignant or doubtful cases. Forty-one (19%) of the patients with 'benign' FNA and 13 (46%) of the 'unsatisfactory' group had excision biopsies which revealed six cancers, giving a false negative rate of 5.2%. FNA cytology gives rapid and reliable results which contribute towards planning of further management of the patient. It can replace the more painful tru-cut biopsy and reduce the need for excision biopsy and frozen section in the initial diagnosis of breast tumours. It is also an effective modality to monitor and confirm suspected recurrences. Although a negative FNA does not completely exclude malignancy, it can be used to reassure the surgeon and the patient and to support their decision not to operate.