This study was done to determine the diagnostic efficacy of clinical examination, fine needle aspiration(FNA) cytology. mammography and ultrasonography in palpable breast mass.

We performed 248 FNA cytology of palpable breast mass, among which 106 cases were histologically examined during the period of from Jan. 1994 to Dec. 1997 at the Department of Surgery, Chonbuk National University Hospital. Among 106 patients, mammographys were taken for 96 patients, and ultrasonographys for 73 patients.

Main clinical symptom was palpable mass on breast at the time she visited the hospital. Clinical diagnosis based on symptoms and physical examination had 96.9% of sensitivity, 57.5% of specificity. Based on definite histologic diagnosis, the sensitivity of FNA cytology was 96.9%, specificity 91.7%, and diagnostic accuracy 93.5%, respectively. 86.1% of cytologic malignancy was proven to be malignant histologically, and 100% of cytologically benign cases were turned out histologically benign. Mammography was performed on 96 cases and the results were as follows; sensitivity 89.3%, specificity 84%, and diagnostic accuracy 86.8%. Ultrasonography in 73 cases showed 93.5% sensitivity, 51.4% specificity, and 74.6% diagnostic accuracy.

FNA cytology was reliable and safe diagnostic method compared to physical examination, mammography, and ultrasonography. And FNA cytology of palpable breast mass should be diagnostic procedure of choice for those patients classified clinically as probably benign or malignant.