Fine needle aspiration in the clinical management of mammary masses

The role of fine needle aspiration (FNA) for clinical decision-making in patients with nodules of the breast remains in evolution. We retrospectively studied FNA outcomes in 183 patients, stratified by decades of age, to determine the reliability of FNA cytologic examination. Using Bayesian analysis, the predictive value of a positive FNA for women more than 60 years of age is 98 to 99 percent. In women 41 to 60 years of age, those with a first-degree relative with carcinoma of the breast and those with a prior biopsy with increased risk have an 88 to 95 percent likelihood of carcinoma. In women younger than 41 years of age, this likelihood decreases to 65 percent. Additionally, the probability of a lump being carcinoma, given the FNA was negative, ranges from 3 to 80 percent. Therefore, biopsy of a dominant nodule should not be deferred based only on a negative FNA. We can conclude that women 61 years of age or older could be counseled for definitive care at the first operation. Women 41 to 60 years of age, those with a positive family history or those with a past biopsy with increased risk, could be counseled for definitive therapy, but have the diagnosis confirmed with frozen section. Women less than 40 years of age without other risk factors receive no diagnostic benefit from FNA and should only be evaluated with open biopsy.