Abstract
In breast tumors experienced at our department from 1983 to June, 1990, drill biopsy as the histologic definitive diagnostic procedure was performed in 719 patients, while aspiration biopsy cytology (ABC) being done in 412 patients. These two methods were compared for the diagnostic ability between two patient groups.
1) Correct diagnosis rates were 98.2% in drill group versus 86.7% in ABC group. 2) In an evaluation of cases by histologic types which were diagnosed as false-negative or unable to be diagnosed but finally found to be malignant, there were no significant differences in drill group, but hard cancer was frequently found in ABC group. In the another evaluation by tumor diameters, no significant difference was noted in ABC group, but smaller tumors were tended to be included in drill group. 3) No false-positives were seen in drill group, but 2 false-positives in a patient were noted in ABC group, which were tubular adenomas.
Drill method is superior to ABC method in histologic diagnostic ability, however, ABC appers more available for small breast tumors.
