Role of Fnac in Predicting Malignancy in Breast Lesions

Abstract

CONTEXTFNAC is the initial first line of investigation in evaluating breast lesions because of its reliability, rapidity and cost effectiveness, even in the present era of open biopsy. AIMTo evaluate the role of FNAC in diagnosing malignancy in breast lesions and to compare it with the Gold standard Histopathology. MATERIALS AND METHODSPatients with breast lesions, evaluated by FNAC and had subsequent histopathological examination were studied to correlate the diagnoses. Statistical analysis was done to find sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value and negative predictive value of FNAC test in diagnosing malignant breast lesions. RESULTSAmong 158 total FNAC cases, 105 had subsequent histopathological followup. Out of 74 cytologically benign cases, 69 were confirmed as benign, 5 turned malignant. Out of 4 cytologically atypical cases, one turned benign and 3 malignant. Out of 27 cytologically malignant cases, 26 were malignant and one turned benign. FNAC had a sensitivity of 85.29%, specificity of 97.18%, positive predictive value of 93.55% and negative predictive value of 93.24%. CONCLUSIONThough FNAC has its own flaw, it still remains as a diagnostic tool in the preoperative evaluation of breast lesions in picking up malignant breast lesions as comparable to histopathology.