[Stereotactic and ultrasound guided fine-needle cytology in nonpalpable breast lesions]

Histologic findings from two consecutive series of fine-needle biopsies of nonpalpable breast lesions were compared. The first series included 243 tumors sampled stereotactically, and the second 198 tumors sampled under ultrasound guidance. The results, together with data from the literature, demonstrated that: 1) the diagnostic efficacy of stereotactic fine-needle cytology of lesions seen on mammograms only as microcalcifications is inadequate; 2) ultrasound-guided fine-needle cytology is an extremely reliable diagnostic tool for lesions that are not seen only as microcalcifications.