Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the breast.

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy is a quick, accurate, cost-effective office procedure that increases the diagnostic usefulness of breast examination. It is a technique best used at initial discovery of a lesion. Its sensitivity, ranging from 90 to 97 percent in large series, depends on two factors: biopsy performance and interpretation. To attain a high sensitivity for this procedure, a team approach that includes the physician, pathologist and radiologist is essential.