Diagnostic utility of fine needle non-aspiration cytology versus fine needle aspiration cytology in breast masses.

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and fine needle non-aspiration cytology (FNNAC) techniques were studied in 145 cases of breast masses. All the needle-sampling procedures were done by single operator. The samples were assessed cytologically and evaluated using five parameters i.e. background blood or clot, amount of cellular material, degree of cellular degeneration, degree of cellular trauma and retention of appropriate architecture. Differences between all the individual parameters as observed in FNAC and FNNAC smears were insignificant. After evaluation of FNNAC and FNAC on the basis of these scores, greater number of diagnostically superior samples were obtained by FNNAC; however by FNAC more number of diagnostically adequate smears were observed. This difference was statistically significant. The number of unsuitable smears were also more by FNNAC technique.