Cytologic diagnosis of occult breast lesions using stereotaxic needle aspiration. A preliminary report
K. Dowlatshahi, P. M. Jokich, R. Schmidt, M. Bibbo and P. J. Dawson
Department of Surgery, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, IL.
In mammographically detected breast lesions, only 10% to 25% of biopsy
specimens are malignant. Furthermore, the current method of needle
localization of these lesions is cumbersome and inefficient. Stereotaxic
needle aspiration was used to examine 84 patients. Successful localization
with the needle tip within 1 to 2 mm of the suspected lesion was possible
in 80 cases (95.2%). Following aspirate cytology, the lesion was localized
with indigo carmine and Kopans' wire and every patient underwent a standard
open excisional biopsy. Twelve cases of breast cancer were diagnosed
histologically. Eleven of these cases were correctly diagnosed
cytologically, while one case yielded a false-negative result. In the
remaining 72 histologically benign cases, four lesions were reported
cytologically to be atypical. There were no complications. Stereotaxic
needle aspiration localizes occult breast lesions precisely and in
conjunction with mammography, and it is an acceptable preoperative method
of diagnosing nonpalpable breast tumors.
