Fine needle aspiration cytology in the investigation of breast lumps at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia

The study was undertaken to determine the value of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the investigation of breast lumps at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka, Zambia. This technique, which has been shown to be cheap, simple and accurate has not been in common use at this institution. FNAC and open biopsy (OB) were performed on 56 patients who presented with a breast lump and the results compared, in order to determine the accuracy of FNAC. FNAC was found to have a sensitivity of 72% and specificity of 100%. This level of accuracy compares favourably with the quality assurance criteria set for breast FNAC by the Royal College of Pathologists in the British National Health Service (NHS).