Clinical experience with percutaneus large-core needle biopsies of the breast and evaluation of cytopathological and histopathological results

Abstract

Core needle biopsy (CNB) allows a microinvasive diagnosis of breast lesions. We investigated whether imprint cytology of CNB specimens is a useful method of rapidly obtaining additional diagnostic information. During five years 46 218 breast examinations for 23 300 patients were performed. 563 patients were examined by CNB. The results of imprint cytology were compared with the histopathological results. Statistical analysis was done for all patients who underwent subsequent surgery. 195 of 563 patients were treated surgically. 155 patients exhibited malign lesions. 40 patients showed benign breast lesions. Four patients with malign findings in imprint cytology and histopathology of CNB were treated conservatively. Imprint cytology had a sensitivity of 0.89, specificity of 0.88, positive predictive value of 0.96 and negative predictive value of 0.67. Histopathology revealed a sensitivity of 0.90, specificity of 0.95, positive predictive value of 0.98 and negative predictive value of 0.70. 364 patients with benign findings in imprint cytology and histopathology were controlled subsequently. One of these patients developed five month later an invasive ductal tumor. Imprint cytology of CNB is a reliable method to obtain additional diagnostic information. Inadequate and suspicious cases should be evaluated based on complementary diagnostic procedures for breast lesions.