Comparison of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytologic Diagnoses and Histologic Diagnoses in 256 Breast Lesions

유방 병변 256례의 세침흡인 세포학적 진단 및 조직학적 진단과의 비교연구

Fine needle aspiration cytology of breast lesion is well known as a simple, economic and effective diagnostic modality. For the evaluation of cytohistologic correlation, 256 cases of cytologic smears and subsequent histologic sections during 2-year period from Jan. 1995 to Dec. 1996 were reviewed. 1. Fifteen cases(5.9%) were proven as insufficient for evaluation, and 13 of them were fibrocystic change histologically. One case of carcinoma exhibiting sufficient amount of aspirates with no malignant cells on smear was regarded as inadequate. 2. Cytohistologic correlation of 240 cases revealed sensitivity 87.0%, specificity 100.0%, positive predictive value 100.0%, negative predictive value 97.0%, false positive rate 0.0% and false negative rate 13.0%. Total diagnostic accuracy is 95.7%. 3. Total 6 cases of negative were due to small amount of aspirates containing scantiness of malignant cells in two and underestimation in four. 4. Diagnostic concordance rates of fibrocystic change and fibroadenoma were 95.5% and 80.0%, respectively. Diagnostic discrepancies were noted in 7 cases of fibrocystic change and 6 cases of fibroadenoma, however, cytologic discrimination of two entities was not easy in seven of them. 5. In a case of phyllodes tumor and a case of duct ectasia, the discrepancy was due to targeting error. Other three cases(lymphoma, adenomyoepithelioma and granulomatous mastitis) were misinterpreted because of poor acquaintance with those entities. Diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology of breast lesions are relatively high. However, good technique on aspiration and adequate interpretation are necessary to reduce the false negative rate and the discrepancy between cytologic and histologic diagnoses.