Effects of fine needle aspiration on subsequent mammograms

The effects of fine needle aspiration on subsequent mammography were studied in a group of women who were referred with palpable breast lumps. Fifty-two women aged between 36 and 73 (median 53) years underwent mammography before and within 5 days of needle aspiration. Preaspiration and postaspiration mammograms were examined 'blind' by one radiologist. In ten cases, a difference was seen between the preaspiration and postaspiration films. In seven (aged 36-50 years) this was due to aspirated cysts. In three the differences were unexpected and were more significant, although the radiological diagnosis was not altered. If this proportion is extrapolated for a large number of patients then significant numbers of artifacts from fine needle aspiration might be seen on mammograms. It is possible that some might be interpreted falsely as malignant and some small cancers might be obscured. Women accepted mammography more readily before aspiration than after.