ULTRASOUND-GUIDED FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY COMPARED TO FINE-NEEDLE CUTTING BIOPSY - CLINICAL EFFICACY IN ONCOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS

From January 1988 to March 1989, 138 biopsies were performed on 91 patients in a clinic specializing in oncology. We used a 3.5 MHz linear or sector scanner. Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNA) was done 92 times, fine-needle cutting biopsy (FNC) 46 times. 8 FNA and 6 FNC were not evaluable due to insufficient aspirated material. Our retrospective study shows a specifity of 100% for both techniques. The sensitivity of FNA was 93% and of FNC 91%. The predictive value of a negative diagnosis was 87% for FNA and 67% for FNC. The low predictive value of a negative diagnosis in FNC was due to the poorer visibility of the FNC needle compared to the FNA needle. Therefore, lesions below 2 cm in diameter were often missed by the FNC needle. Both techniques are safe, simple, rapid, cost effective and accurate in experienced hands. No major discomfort or side effect was seen so that these reliable diagnostic techniques are even available for out-patients. For the distinction between benign or malignant lesions FNA alone is sufficient. When the histologic architecture of a lesion is important, FNC contributes additional information for further clinical decision-making.