The accuracy of combination ultrasound and fine needle aspiration biopsy in confirming malignancy in patients with clinically malignant breast masses seen at the breast center of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center

ABSTRACT

Objectives: To determine if ultrasound can increase the accuracy of fine needle aspiration biopsy in confirming malignancy in clinically malignant breast masses. Methods: Clinically malignant breast masses underwent ultrasound, fine needle aspiration biopsy/cytology, and tissue biopsy. Accuracy of each test and in combination were calculated using histopathology as gold standard. Results: The accuracy of ultrasound alone was only 67.5% sensitivity of 90.0%, specificity of 33.3%, positive predictive value of 67.2% and negative predictive value of 68.8%, while FNAB alone has an accuracy of 89.2%, sensitivity of 90.0%, specificity of 87.9%, postive predictive value of 91.8%, and negative predictive value of 85.3%. With concordant findings in ultrasound and FNAB, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value are 94.3%, 97.6%, 81.8%, 95.3%, and 90%, respectively. Conclusion: With concordant findings in ultrasound and FNAB, accuracy in confirming malignancy is 94.3%. Key words: breast cancer, breast ultrasonography, fine needle aspiration biopsy/cytology