Abstract

AIM: We planned a retrospective study to test the sensitivity, specivity, and positive predictive value of cytopathological procedures (fine needle aspiration biopsies, cyst aspirations, nipple discharges ) vvidely used by the clinicians in our hospital during the last 10 years. STUDY DESIGN: Diagnostic procedures preceeding the surgical intervention and histopathological results of 213 cases, recorded in our archives during the years 1996 -1998 were reviewed. Of the 213 cases, 100 were modifieD mastectomy, 92 conservatiye surgery, 14 simple mastectomy, and 7 mammA plasty specimens. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy - six ( 82 % ) of the cases were diagnosed by cytopathology (fine needle aspiration biopsy, cyst aspiration ) and 37 ( 38 % ) by excisional bi- opsy. Of the 176 cases, 184 cytopathological specimens were studied. Results according to the type of the surgical procedures are listed: Eight - for % of the conservative surgery cases and 100 % of the mammaplasty cases were diagnosed cytopathologically. In the conservative surgery group sensivity of cytopathology was found to be 94 %, specifity and positive predictive value approached to 100 %. In the modified radical mastectomy group, sensitivity of cytopathology was 97 % and positive predictive value was 100%. In the mammaplasty - simple mastectomy group sensitivity specifity, and positive predictive value was 100 %. CONCLUSION: In the 176 cases diagnosed cytopathologically and treated by surgery, sensitivity of cytopathology was found to be 96 %, specifity 100 %, and with a positive predictive value of 100 %. Cytopathology in the diagnosis of breast lesions has a high rate of sensitivity, specifity and reliability in our institution.