Reporting fine-needle aspirates of breast: a survey of preferences among surgeons.

Abstract

The optimal format for reporting results of breast fine-needle aspiration cytology is controversial, with some experts favoring a five-category system and others recommending a four-category format. A survey of 200 surgeons was performed to determine their preference for a four- or five-category report format. They were also questioned concerning the number of patients per year in whom they diagnosed breast cancer, if they used fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) regularly, and why they favored one category over the other. Eighty-five complete responses were received. Fifty-eight percent of these surgeons (49) routinely used FNAC for the diagnosis of breast nodules. There was no strong preference for either report format. Twenty-four of 49 routine users of FNAC favored a four-category format, and another four had no preference. Surgeons who routinely used FNAC in the diagnosis of breast disease do not have a preference for the five-category probabilistic system.