Background: The purpose of the study is to know the diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology over histopathological examination in clinically palpable breast masses and its reliability in
planning definitive surgical treatment. Methods: A prospective study conducted in 50 female patients admitted with clinically palpable
breast masses in all surgical units at ESI Medical College, Gulbarga, during the study period of 18 months (from January 2018 to Sepetember 2019). All women underwent FNAC with subsequent
Histopathological correlation. The cytological diagnoses were classified as: malignant, suspicious, benign or unsatisfactory. Histopathological
correlation was based on either, an excisional biopsy, or a mastectomy specimen. Results: A total of 50 fine-needle aspirations performed during the study period, on women being evaluated for a clinically palpable breast mass were included in the study. Out of 50 cases
there were 19 (38%) malignant FNAC diagnoses, 2 (4%) cases diagnosed as suspicious on FNAC and histopathology revealed as malignant. There were no false-positive cases. Of the 27 (54%) cases interpreted as benign, only 1 (2%) was false negative, which later on histopathology diagnosed as infiltrating duct carcinoma. Two cases (4%) had unsatisfactory samples. Conclusions: The study showed a very high
sensitivity (95.45%), specificity (100%), positive predictive value (100%), and negative predictive value (96.29%), with minimal false-negative rates (4.54%) and without any false positive rates. The
overall accuracy was 96 percent. This study, confirms that FNAC is safe, simple, quick, cost-effective, reliable and accurate method in the initial diagnosis of clinically palpable breast masses. When correctly
performed and interpreted by an experienced cytopathologist FNAC can be a valuable tool in the diagnosis of breast masses, hence to plan definite treatment.
Keyword: Fine Needle aspiration; Histopathology;
Breast Mass.