ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Chirurgia 2005 August;18(4):181-4

Copyright © 2005 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Ultrasound-guided superfine needle nonaspiration cytology in breast tumors

Busacca G., Amore M., Tricoli D., Interlandi A.

Aim. Our study reports results with ultrasound-guided superfine needle nonaspiration cytology in breast tumor diagnosis. The technique employs a simple, inexpensive instrument. We wanted to compare the differences in patient compliance and number of inadequate samples between using this technique and that used in a previous study.
Methods. From May 2000 to May 2003, we studied 175 cases of malignant and benign breast tumors and compared the results with those from a previous study (255 cases evaluated from January 1996 to April 2000).
Results. The total number of inadequate samples in this study was 10 (5.71%) versus 24 (9.41%) of those in the previous study. The ratio of inadequate samples in malignant tumors was 1 in 25 cases (4%) versus 8.33% (January 1996 to December 1997) and 8.69% (January 1998 to April 2000). The ratio of inadequate samples in benign tumors was 9 in 141 cases (6.38%) versus 17.7% (January 1996 to December 1997) and 7.40% (January 1998 to April 2000).
Conclusion. Our results are in line with those reported in the literature. The advantages to this technique comprise fewer inadequate samples, simplicity and ease of use and good patient compliance. A drawback is the short, fine needle design that limits use of the technique for examination of scirrhous or deep-seated tumors.