Diagnostic Value of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology for Breast Tumors

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of death from cancer in women. The accuracy of diagnosis can be increased with a combination of clinical examination, imaging diagnostics, and fi ne needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) or core needle biopsy, also known as triple test. The aim of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of FNAC in the diagnosis of breast tumors in our institution by correlating it with histopathology findings. We assessed the accuracy of 124 FNAC findings by comparing cytological diagnosis of breast masses with the diagnoses from histopathology reports obtained by surgery. Statistical analysis showed 95.1% accuracy, 97.7% sensitivity, 89.1% specificity, 95.5% positive predictive value and 94.2% negative predictive value of FNAC. Study results indicated that FNAC could be used as a highly reliable tool in the differential diagnosis of breast tumors, in combination with clinical and imaging findings, especially in developing countries with limited financial resources.

Urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin concentration in healthy newborns during the first three postnatal days.

INTRODUCTION: Urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) is a biochemical marker significant for early prediction of acute kidney injury in adults. However, it has not been examined sufficiently among the infant population, particularly newborns in terms of reference values. The aim of our study was to determine the concentration of uNGAL in healthy term newborns and to determine if there was a difference in uNGAL concentration according to gender, postnatal age and birth weight. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our study involved 81 healthy term newborns birth (≥ 37 weeks, Apgar score ≥ 8 in the first minute after birth, CRP < 5 mg/L). Urine NGAL was measured using chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) within 72 hours after birth, on Architect plus ci8200 analyser (Abbott, Chicago, USA). Data were analysed using Statistica software. RESULTS: The median concentration of uNGAL in the whole study group of healthy term newborns was 27.1 ng/mL (16.5-56.0 ng/mL) (newborn girls, 27.1 ng/mL (15.8-47.9 ng/mL); newborn boys, 27.9 ng/mL (16.5-61.0 ng/mL), P = 0.941). Median uNGAL concentration according to postnatal age expressed in days was 28.2 ng/mL (11.7-57.2 ng/mL) 1st day, 28.9 ng/mL (16.5-64.2 ng/mL) 2nd day and 23.9 ng/mL (20.2-46.6) 3rd day, P = 0.863. Regarding birth weight for newborns < 3500 g, median concentration was 25.0 ng/mL (16.5-45.4 ng/mL) and for weight ≥ 3500 g 30.6 ng/mL (16.5-64.2 ng/mL), P = 0.455. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant difference in uNGAL concentration in relation to gender, postnatal age and birth weight.