Comparison of fine-needle aspiration and frozen section of palpable mammary lesions.

We compared the results of 100 consecutive fine-needle aspirations of palpable mammary lesions in women with 100 consecutive frozen sections done on palpable suspicious nodules in the breasts of women who had had no prior aspiration. There were no false positive results in either group. The false negative rate of aspirations was 6%, compared with none for frozen section, suspicious cases excluded. In four of six patients with false negative aspirations, the specimen was nondiagnostic or unsatisfactory. (In this series, no repeat aspirations were performed for nondiagnostic or negative specimens, even when clinically suspicious.) We conclude that aspiration of a palpable mammary tumor is a definitive procedure with results equivalent to frozen section and equally suitable for choosing and undertaking definitive therapy, when positive. Negative results, viewed in an appropriate clinical context, also proved conclusive. Atypical or suspicious results at aspiration must be followed by repeat aspiration or excision, since these frequently prove positive; likewise, unsatisfactory or nonrepresentative aspirations must be investigated further, as indicated by the clinical evaluation.