The accuracy of "one-stop" diagnosis for 1,110 patients presenting to a symptomatic breast clinic.

To minimise delay in diagnosis and reduce patient anxiety, triple assessment with immediate reporting has been used in our symptomatic breast clinic since 1991. This article examines the accuracy of the diagnostic modalities used and the efficacy of the "one-stop" diagnostic policy. The data on 1,110 new patients presenting to the symptomatic breast clinic between January and July 1993, were analysed and subsequent three year follow-up and outcome established. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) gave the highest predictive value (97.3%) with a sensitivity of 93.5% and a specificity of 98.1%. Ultrasonography provided a 97.0% prediction with a sensitivity of 88.9% and a specificity of 97.4%, whereas mammography had a prediction of 96.4% with sensitivity of 93.2% and a specificity of 96.7%. When the mammogram or ultrasound scan were reported as unequivocally benign (M1), there were no missed cancers. The false positive and false negative rates for FNAC were 0% and 1.4%, respectively. Following assessment, a diagnosis was made in 96% of patients. Sixty-two percent of the patients were discharged at the first clinic visit. Four breast malignancies were subsequently diagnosed in the discharged group; two with new microcalcifications due to ductal carcinoma in situ, one with invasive disease in a different quadrant of the breast from that originally investigated, and in one patient the cancer was missed. CONCLUSION: A "one-stop" symptomatic breast clinic provides an accurate and effective means of establishing a correct diagnosis.     

Fine needle aspiration in the diagnosis of salivary gland lesions

Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of salivary glands was performed in 187 patients. In 106 patients with satisfactory FNAB smears who proceeded to surgery, the original cytologic diagnosis was compared with subsequent histopathology. There were 74 benign tumours and 25 malignant tumours. Nineteen of the latter were primary malignant neoplasms of the salivary glands, and 6 were metastatic. The cytologic diagnosis by FNAB correlated exactly with the histologic diagnosis in 95% of benign neoplasms and in 68% of malignant neoplasms, with an overall accuracy of 88%. A false negative diagnosis for malignancy was made in five cases and a false positive diagnosis in one case. Hence the sensitivity for malignancy was 80% and the specificity was 99%. The most frequently misdiagnosed lesions were pleomorphic adenoma and muco-epidermoid carcinoma. FNAB of salivary gland lesions is easy to perform and free of complications, but the cytologic patterns may be difficult to interpret, and considerable experience is necessary in order to achieve a high diagnostic accuracy.     

Fine-needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of primary breast cancer

To evaluate the role of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology in the diagnosis of primary breast cancer, we reviewed our experience over a recent 5-year period at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. A total of 590 aspirates with subsequent follow-up were documented. One hundred thirty-three primary cancers were histologically proved. Of the 133 cancers, 91 (68%) were diagnosed as malignant by aspiration cytologic examination; another 22 (17%) were reported as suspicious. Of the cancers, 8 (6%) had a benign cytologic diagnosis and 12 (9%) had unsatisfactory smears. No cytologic tests positive for malignancy were found to be benign on histologic examination. With an absolute sensitivity of 75% and a specificity of 100%, we conclude that FNA cytologic examination is highly accurate in the diagnosis of breast cancer. With no false-positive studies, the finding of a clearly malignant cytologic condition obviates the need for biopsy before mastectomy.     

Accuracy of aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of breast disease

The accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology has been assessed in 480 consecutive breast lesions where definitive histology was later available. The results in terms of specificity and sensitivity have also been compared to mammography and clinical examination. With adequate smears aspiration cytology was 100 per cent specific with no false positive diagnosis. This compares with 15 false positive mammograms and 12 false positive diagnoses on clinical examination. Cytology was unsatisfactory in 36 per cent of benign lesions owing to poor cellularity of the sample but when considered with mammography and examination led to a reduction in biopsies for benign disease. A definitive cytological diagnosis of malignant tumours resulted in a reduction in frozen sections with a substantial saving of resources and improvement in patient counselling. No mastectomy was performed for benign disease.     

超声造影诊断乳腺占位性病变影响因素

目的 分析超声造影（CEUS）诊断乳腺占位性病变出现假阳性、假阴性结果的影响因素。方法 回顾性分析349例接受常规超声（US）、CEUS及乳腺X线摄影（MG）的女性乳腺单发占位性病变患者,以病理结果为金标准,将CEUS诊断结果分为真阳性、真阴性、假阳性和假阴性。采用单因素及多因素Logistic回归分析筛选CEUS出现假阳性、假阴性结果的影响因素。结果 349个乳腺病变中,良性病变205个,恶性病变144个。CEUS正确诊断127个恶性、170个良性病变,诊断敏感度为88.19%（127/144）,特异度82.93%（170/205）,准确率85.10%（297/349）,假阳性率17.07%（35/205）,假阴性率11.81%（17/144）。单因素及多因素Logistic回归分析结果显示,年龄、病变至乳头距离（DtP）、合并高危病变是CEUS假阳性的影响因素（P均<0.05）;而年龄、病灶最大径（LMD）与CEUS假阴性有关（P均<0.05）。结论 乳腺占位性病变患者年龄、DtP、是否合并高危病变与CEUS假阳性有关;年龄、病灶最大径与CEUS假阴性有关。     

Imprint cytology of needle core-biopsy specimens of breast lesions: Is it a useful adjunt to rapid assessment breast clinics?

This study aimed at assessing the practicability of imprint cytology (IC) of core biopsy (CB) specimens in order to achieve one-stop diagnosis of breast lesions. In total, 199 symptomatic patients underwent free-hand CB of the suspected breast lesions. The slides were stained by Diff-QuikO and reported independently of histological reporting. For practical reasons cytology specimens were graded as follows: C1=inadequate, as less than 4 groups of epithelial cells were seen, C2=benign, C3=probably benign, C4=probably malignant and C5=positive for malignancy. The results of IC were correlated with CB histology. Absolute sensitivity of the IC was 85.0% and complete sensitivity was 89.2% when correlated with CB. Specificity (biopsy cases only) of IC was 53.1% while full specificity was 53.1%. Positive predictive value of C5 was 99.3%, C4 55.6 % and C3 was 100%. Overall suspicious rate was 5.5%. It was concluded that IC is a reliable way of diagnosing symptomatic breast lesions in one-stop breast clinic and retains the advantage of pre-operative availability of detailed pathological characteristics of tumours for treatment planning.     

Aspiration cytology in the management of breast lesions

In a group of patients with breast lumps, diagnosis made by pre-operative aspiration cytology was compared with that obtained by histological section of excised specimens. Results showed that aspiration cytology correctly diagnosed 89% of malignant lesions and 92.6% of benign lesions based upon histological diagnosis. Cytological diagnosis of benign disease had a false negative rate of 6% while cytological diagnosis of malignant disease had a 2.7% false positive rate. Only 3.5% of cytologies returned an inadequate diagnosis. This study shows that aspiration cytology should be useful in allowing a better psychological preparation of patients before surgery as well as better utilization of operation theatre facilities.     

Triple assessment of breast lump

Objective: To determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of triple test (TT) consisting of physical examination (PE), mammography, fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the evaluation and characterization of palpable breast lump. Secondly, whether this can be employed as an alternative for tru cut/ excisional biopsy. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in the department of diagnostic imaging, Shifa International Hospital (SIH), Islamabad in collaboration with departments of surgery and pathology from January 2004 to June 2005. Patients and Methods: It comprised of 35 consecutive females presenting in the breast clinic with palpable lump. Females below 35 years of age were excluded due to low sensitivity of the mammography in depiction of focal breast lesions resulting from glandular parenchyma. Patients with acute inflammatory signs, fungating masses, pregnant ladies as well as those with cystic lesions, as confirmed by ultrasound, were also excluded from the study. Number, size and recurrent masses did not influence the inclusion criterion. Detailed history and physical examination was carried out as per established protocol. It was followed by mammography and FNAC. All cases underwent excisional biopsy irrespective of the results of the triple test. Results: The patients' age ranged from 35 to 75 years with mean age of 45.97. Amongst these, 19 cases were benign (54.28 %) and 16 cases (45.71 %) were malignant. The triple test (TT) was scored as concordant if the elements had either all malignant or all benign results. The triple test was non-concordant if the elements had neither all malignant nor all benign results. The TT was concordant in 19 cases (54.28 %) i.e all the benign cases detected by the triple test were benign on final biopsy (100 % specificity and NPV), all the malignant lesions detected by TT turned out to be malignant on final biopsy (100 % sensitivity and PPV). Triple test was non-concordant in 16 cases (45.71 %). Triple Test was scored as benign or malignant based upon the combined results of two elements amongst three components. Out of these, 11 cases were malignant and 5 were benign. In 4 cases, the components of the triple test were suspicious i.e. BIRAD IV on mammography and slight atypical cells without frank malignancy on FNAC. In current study, suspicious cases were taken as malignant. These turned out to be malignant at the end signifying 100% PPV. However, among the 12 cases where, at least one of the 3 components of TT was benign, FNAC was most accurate (2 False Negative (FN) and 0 False Positive (FP), followed by mammography (2 FN and 3 FP) and physical examination was least accurate with 3 FN and 4 FP. It is of note that in 2 cases where FNAC gave FN results, the other two components were either suspicious or malignant. In those cases where two variables were malignant, FNAC and mammography were most accurate with no false positive or false negative. It was followed by physical examination and FNAC with 1 false negative and no false positive. Conclusion: The study shows that when TT is concordant, final treatment may be ensued without open biopsy. In non-concordant cases, FNAC stands as single most important investigation. However due to its false negative results, other components of triple test need to be employed to enhance its efficacy and diagnostic yield. TT is cost effective, easy to perform and time saving approach, however, it can be applied only in those institutions where excellent imaging facilities as well as services of a cytopathologist are available. Due to small sample size, the results of this study needs further verification by relatively larger scale studies.     

Reduction of the surgical excision rate in benign breast disease using fine needle aspiration cytology with immediate reporting

Patients attending a breast clinic in two different periods were studied. In the first period fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was not available and in the second it was used on all discrete solid breast lumps and reported immediately in the clinic. With the use of FNAC the overall surgical excision rate for discrete solid lumps was reduced from 83 per cent to 41 per cent and the excision rate in patients with benign disease was reduced from 74 per cent to 23 per cent (P less than 0.001). All patients with breast cancer in the second period had malignant cytology and no patient with benign or acellular cytology has been shown, after a minimum follow-up period of 18 months, to have breast cancer. Using FNAC with immediate reporting, the number of operations performed in patients with benign breast disease can be safely reduced.     

超声乳腺影像学报告及数据系统鉴别诊断乳腺小肿块

目的探讨超声乳腺影像学报告及数据系统(BI-RADS)标准化描述术语鉴别诊断乳腺小肿块(最大直径均≤1.5cm)的价值。方法利用BI-RADS超声术语对159例患者共186个乳腺小肿块进行描述,并对这些超声征象进行二分类Logistic回归分析。结果良性肿块123个(123/186,66.13%),恶性肿块63个(63/186,33.87%)。超声对恶性肿块诊断的敏感度、特异度、准确率分别为71.43%(45/63)、87.80%(108/123)、82.26%(153/186)。单因素分析显示乳腺良恶性小肿块的形态、边缘、生长方向、后方回声、内部微钙化差异有统计学意义(P0.05);多因素分析显示边缘毛刺和内部微钙化进入回归模型(P0.05)。结论边缘毛刺及肿块内部微钙化对鉴别乳腺良恶性小肿块最具价值。     

Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy Update 1998

Abstract: Breast ultrasound using a high-resolution, realtime, hand-held probe was performed on 19, 714 patients. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy was done on 2,453 solid masses. We report on 2,075 of these lesions, 629 malignant and 1,446 benign, confirmed either by excisional biopsy or adequate follow-up. Of the cancers, 597 (95%) had either malignant or suspicious cytology with 1 false positive case and 32 false negative cytologic results. The diagnosis of cancer was delayed in four patients because of benign appearances on imaging and cytology. Surgery was performed promptly after the first imaging follow-up in each case. There was no delay in diagnosis in the remaining 11 patients because of the suspicious appearance of the masses on mammogram. Mammography missed 147 (23%) of the 629 cancers, 102 of which were clinically palpable. Forty-five cancers were both nonpalpable and not seen by mammogram (incidental cancers). A correct cytologic diagnosis, either fibroadenoma or nonspecific benign, was made in 1,339 of the 1,446 benign masses. The sensitivity of this technique in the diagnosis of solid breast lesions was 95%, the specificity was 93%, and the overall accuracy was 93%. We conclude that real-time, ultra sound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology is a valuable adjunct to the clinical, mammographic, and sonographic assessment of solid breast lesions.     

超声新技术结合超声乳腺影像报告和数据系统评估乳腺病变的应用现状

目前超声乳腺影像报告和数据系统(BI-RADS-US)已广泛应用于临床。随着弹性成像、CEUS、三维超声及"萤火虫"成像等超声新技术快速发展,其与BI-RADS-US分类联合应用有助于提高超声对乳腺小病灶的鉴别诊断能力及对乳腺癌的诊断效能。本文对超声新技术结合BI-RADS-US评估乳腺病变良恶性的应用现状进行综述。     

Aspiration cytology is superior to Tru-Cut needle biopsy in establishing the diagnosis of clinically suspicious breast masses.

Eighty-one consecutive patients with breast masses clinically suspicious for malignancy were evaluated prospectively. There were 31 benign lesions and 50 malignancies. Clinical diagnosis was correct in 85% (2.5% false negative, 12.5% false positive). Mammography was diagnostic in 52.8% (31.5% false negative, 15.7% false positive). Needle biopsy was accurate in 78.9% (21.1% false negative, 0% false positive). Aspiration cytology was diagnostic in 96.2% (3.8% false negative, 0% false positive). Statistical comparison of all four tests revealed that aspiration cytology was slightly more accurate than physical examination for all lesions (p = 0.07), but significantly more accurate for benign lesions (p = 0.005). Overall, aspiration cytology was significantly more accurate than mammography (p = 0.000001) and needle biopsy (p = 0.008). Only one minor complication, a superficial infection, occurred with aspiration cytology and needle biopsy. Thin-needle aspiration cytology is a benign procedure that appears to be superior to physical examination, mammography, and needle biopsy in establishing the diagnosis of clinically suspicious breast masses.     

Anxiety in patients with symptomatic breast disease: effects of immediate versus delayed communication of results.

Immediate reporting of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) specimens has been introduced into many breast clinics; in others, women return to a later clinic to receive the result. This delay in communication of results may lead to elevated anxiety. This study compared anxiety levels in two groups having FNAB. One group received results at the initial clinic visit (n = 51), the other having delayed communication (n = 51). Anxiety was measured using the six-item short form of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-SSF) and was administered before and after each consultation. Initial anxiety was high in both groups. Women with malignant results had higher post-communication anxiety compared with women with benign results. However, within the group with benign results (the vast majority), immediate communication was associated with a significantly greater fall in STAI-SSF scores from before to after the first consultation (U = 587.0; P < 0.02). There was no difference between the immediate and delayed communication among women with a malignant diagnosis (U = 26.0; P = 0.91). These results provide preliminary support for the more widespread introduction of a cytologist into breast clinics to allow immediate communication of results.     

One-stop diagnosis for symptomatic breast disease.

A consultant-led one-stop diagnostic service has been available at a busy symptomatic breast clinic each week at St Bartholomew's Hospital for 18 months. Women can be investigated appropriately using mammography, ultrasonography and cytology with immediate reporting. The aim is to achieve a diagnosis and management plan for each patient at the initial outpatient visit. A prospective audit of four consecutive clinics was undertaken to assess the impact of this service on clinical practice. Fifty patients out of 134 new and 386 follow-up clinic attenders had one-stop investigations. As a result of immediate reporting, 48 (96%) patients had a management decision made at the first outpatient visit, 9 (18%) were offered surgery, and 18 (36%) were discharged with a benign diagnosis and no dominant mass. Four symptomatic cancers were detected and evaluated on a one-stop basis, constituting 8% of the workload of this clinic. The mean wait from designated appointment until surgical consultation was 37.7 min (range -68-171 min) and that for investigation until subsequent clinical review was 56.9 min (range -4-191 min). Thirty-six (72%) one-stop patients had a total wait of less than 2 h and 95% were seen in under 3 h. It is felt that the one-stop clinic allows optimum patient management, minimises anxiety associated with symptomatic breast disease, and maximises utilisation of hospital outpatient resources.     

A prospective study of the use of fine-needle aspiration cytology and core biopsy in the diagnosis of breast cancer

A prospective study was carried out on 143 consecutive patients with palpable lumps larger than 2 cm in size which were clinically suspicious of carcinoma. One hundred and five lumps proved to be malignant and 38 were benign. Of the 105 patients with malignancy, confirmation was made in 95 by fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) with a sensitivity of 90.4% and 100 by core biopsy with a sensitivity of 95.2%. The sensitivity of core biopsies increased with the number of cores taken (one core, 76.2%; two cores, 80.9%, three cores, 89.2%; four cores, 95.2%). The combined sensitivity of FNAC and core biopsies was 100%, and so are complementary in the accurate diagnosis of breast cancer. Patients presenting to the breast clinic with a solid suspicious breast lump larger than 2 cm can benefit from FNAC and a minimum of four core biopsies to improve diagnosis.     

Accuracy of frozen-section diagnosis in salivary gland neoplasms

A retrospective review of 100 patients with major or minor salivary gland neoplasms was conducted to ascertain the accuracy and effect on therapy of frozen-section diagnosis. Of these patients, 23% had malignant and 77% benign neoplasms. Twelve patients benefited by further surgery during the initial operation, and no treatment delay occurred as a result of frozen-section diagnosis. There were four incorrect diagnoses of clinical significance, two false positives (benign tumor called malignant on frozen section) and two false negatives (malignant tumor called benign on frozen section). The accuracy of frozen section for specific pathologic diagnosis was 92%. No unnecessary radical surgery was performed. Frozen-section diagnosis of salivary gland neoplasms in our institution was found to be accurate and useful.     

Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology in Symptomatic Breast Lesions: Still an Important Diagnostic Modality?

The objective of this study was to make an assessment of the utility of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), in a "one-stop" symptomatic breast triple assessment clinic. Controversy surrounds the optimal tissue biopsy methodology in the diagnosis of symptomatic breast cancer and the identification of benign disease. FNAC in the context of a Rapid Assessment Breast Clinic (RABC) allows the same day diagnosis and early treatment of breast cancer, with the immediate reassurance and discharge of those with benign disease. We analyzed prospective data accrued at a RABC, over a 4-year period from 2004 to 2007. All patients were triple assessed, with FNACs performed on site by two consultant cytopathologists. Investigations were reported immediately, and clinical data were captured via a database using compulsory data field entry. There were 4487 attendances at our RABC, with 1572 FNACs were performed. The positive predictive value of FNAC with a C5 cancer diagnosis was 100%, 95.6% for a C4 report, with a complete sensitivity of 94%. The full specificity of correctly identified benign lesions was 77.4%, with a false negative rate of 3.85%. This enabled 66% of patients attending the RABC to receive a same day diagnosis of benign disease and discharge. FNAC is highly accurate in the diagnosis of symptomatic breast cancer in an RABC. FNAC allows accurate diagnosis of benign disease and immediate discharge of the majority of patients. In this era, when a large majority of patients have benign disease, we believe that FNAC provides an equivalent, if not better, method of evaluation of patients in a triple assessment RABC.     

The "gray zone" in fine needle aspiration cytology of the breast

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is an essential procedure in the diagnosis of premalignant and malignant lesions of the breast. A "gray zone" exists between benign and malignant lesions in FNAC of breast; there an unequivocal diagnosis cannot be reached. Lesions in "gray zone" are categorized as "probably benign with atypia" (C3) and "probably malignant" (C4). Authors compared the cytology with histopathology and clinical follow-up of "gray zone" breast lesions, classified either as C3 or as C4 by FNAC. Amongst the total of 1679 FNACs, 85 (5%) were diagnosed as C3, whereas 101 (6%) were diagnosed as C4. Of the C3 cases, 48 patients underwent surgical biopsy. Histology proved malignancy in 21 (44%) cases, and was benign in 27 (56%) cases. Eighty-five open biopsies were performed out of the C4 cases. The histology was malignant in 76 (89%) cases, and benign in 9 (11%) cases. Lesions belong to "gray zone" should be taken into consideration in the FNAC of the breast and patients must be informed regarding this fact.     

Punch biopsy: A useful adjunct in a rapid diagnosis breast clinic

IntroductionTriple assessment of breast lesions usually involves the use of core biopsy (CB) or fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Punch Biopsy (PB) is a technique widely used by dermatologists and can be used in superficial breast lesions with dermal involvement. We studied the utilization of PB in a rapid diagnosis breast clinic.MethodWe reviewed patients who underwent a PB over a seven and a half-year period from December 2001 to May 2009. The indications for biopsy and the contribution of PB to final diagnosis were studied.ResultsThe commonest indications were breast lump with skin involvement or ulceration (n = 27), suspected Paget's disease (n = 25), discolouration of breast skin (n = 23), and nodules in the breast skin or surgical scar (n = 18). Final diagnosis was benign in 80 patients and malignant in 20. In 74 patients with benign and 7 patients with malignant diagnoses, PB was the only source of histological diagnosis.ConclusionPB is a valuable adjunct to conventional methods of tissue diagnosis such as CB and FNAC in both benign and malignant breast lesions.