The use of ultrasonography for follow-up of benign breast lesions evaluated by citopathology

Abstract

Objective: The objective is to verify the accuracy of ultrasonography in the follow-up of breast lesions previously diagnosed as benign diseases by cytopathology. Methods: A retrospective and observational study aimed to compare the accuracy of fine needle aspiration in relation to the pathological exam and to the ultrasonography, in follow-up of breast lesions through the calculation of the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and using the ROC curve. Results: 507 fine needle aspirations were analyzed in the period of August 2002 to December 2010. A total of 23.23% were excluded from the study because they were considered as inappropriate material. When compared to the pathological exam, the accuracy of fine needle aspiration was 91.76%. When related to the ultrasonography, the accuracy was 99.38%. When compared to both pathological exam and ultrasonography, using the ROC curve, the accuracy of the index test was 88 and 84%, respectively. Conclusion: The radiological follow-up of the breast lesions can be an alternative in the follow-up of lesions previously diagnosed as benign to fine needle aspiration.