DIAGNOSTIC VALUUE OF FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY (FNAC) BIOPSY AND LYMPH NODES IN BREAST TUMOURS

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is the most common solid cancer in women and one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in the western countries. In India it is a leading cause for mortality and morbidity. Prognosis of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of breast is determined by anatomic extent of the disease and can be assessed by tumor size, lymph node status and metastasis, also biologic markers such as histological grade, hormone receptor expression, HER2 overexpression, and/or amplification and genomic panels can be used. The presence of metastatic in axillary lymph nodes confirms the capacity of a cancer to metastasize. It represents the single most prognostically potent element of clinical stage in potentially curable cases. Axillary lymph node dissection and histological evaluation has a continuing place in the staging and management of patients with breast cancer. It has been shown that cytological grade correlates well with the axillary lymph nodal metastasis and also prognosis. Axillary lymph node evaluation in breast cancer is usually performed preoperatively by clinical examination, sonography, lymph node resection and by ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology. 
 MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients with detected breast mass (palpable and non-palpable) and palpable axillary lymph node who were evaluated by FNAC. After sterile draping and sufficient disinfection, a 10-ml syringe was inserted into and withdrawn from the lymph node three times under aspiration while sonographically monitored. The procedure was performed by using 21-22 Gauge needle with 2–4 aspirations and it was repeated if the sample was inadequate. Ultrasound guided FNAC was performed for impalpable, and deeply located small lumps.
 RESULTS: A total of 156 patients were underwent for FNAC of the breast lump. Histological correlation of all the patients was done. The mean age of patients who underwent FNAC was 39.6 ± 9.42 years and all were female patients. The cytology reports were classified as benign, atypical, suspicious, malignancy, and unsatisfactory. In 59 (37.8%) cases benign lesions were observed of which the fibrocystic disease was the most common cytological diagnosis. 15 (9.6%) were atypical, 7(4.5%) were suspicious and in 72(46.2%) cases malignancy was diagnosed. In 3 (1.9%) cases sample was unsatisfactory. FNAC of the axillary lymph nodes was performed on 76 patients with palpable lymph nodes and histological correlation of axillary lymph node. In FNAC and histology correlation of axillary lymph node sensitivity was 81.94% (95% CI 71.11% to 90.02%) and specificity was 100% (95% CI39.76% to 100.00%) with positive predictive value of 100%.
 CONCLUSION: FNAC is a rapid, cost effective and safe procedure for management of breast lumps.