[Puncture-aspiration biopsy with fine needle]

The results of one hundred and sixty nine fine needle aspiration biopsy procedures with complete follow-up are evaluated. The biopsies were performed with a 21G needle with a slight modification at the distal end. For breast, a 21G 1-1/2'' hypodermic needle was used. Samples were taken mostly from breast (34.3%), lung/mediastinum (32.5%) and liver (18.3%). Guide method was determined by the location of the lesion. Palpation was preferred for breast and superficial tumors, fluoroscopy for lung and bone and ultrasound for any other. Malignancy was diagnosed in 98 (57.99%), non-malignancy in 61 (36.09%) and 10 (5.92%) were suspicious for malignancy. All malignant cases correlated with final diagnosis. Out of 10 suspicious cases, 8 proved to be malignant and the two others were benign, they were considered as false positive. Of the 61 cases diagnosed as benign, 50 were confirmed and in 11 the diagnosis of malignancy was established representing the false negative. Correlation rate was estimated in 92.31%; sensibility in 90.6% and specificity in 96.15%. The malignant predictive value was 99% and benign predictive value 79%. The management of fine needle biopsy specimen with appropriate histotechnics procedures, can produce a very rich preparation that can give us a detailed histological diagnosis that correlates exactly in 75% of the cases. The method was especially helpful as the first approach in patients with metastases of unknown primary. Complications occurred only in thoracic punctures where they reach 20.88% of the thorax cases. No fatalities were registered.