[Solid breast nodules: reliability of ultrasonographic and cytological studies]

The authors evaluated the usefulness of US study and US guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in 144 solid breast lesions. US studies was performed with a 10-MHz transducer. Homogenous hypoechogenicity, elongation along the general orientation of the breast tissue plane, regular margins, and intensification of posterior echoes were considered as benign signs. US guided FNAC was performed when lesions were depicted at US. The smears were performed immediately by the cytologist who was present during the procedure. US signs and FNAC diagnoses were compared with surgical/core biopsy diagnoses or negative imaging follow-up. The sensitivity of US was 93%, specificity 75%, accuracy 81%. Among 41 malignant lesions the cytologic findings were malignant (n = 26) or suspicious (n = 7) with 1 false positive and 2 false negative. Inadequate samplings were less frequent last year study (13.5%). The sensitivity of cytologic diagnosis was 94%, specificity 85%, and accuracy 88%. US study and FNAC could be helpful in evaluating solid breast lesions. A better accuracy may be obtained if FNAC is associated with core biopsy.