ABSTRACT
To compare the results of fine needle aspiration cytology [FNAC] and tru-cut biopsy in detecting breast cancer in suspicious breast lumps in outpatient setting. Furthermore, to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of further histopathological details obtained with tru-cut biopsy, and its effect on preoperative planning of surgical treatment. A total of 175 women who presented to consultant breast surgeon from July 2006 to December 2007 with clinically suspicious breast lump at breast clinic in KHMC were included in this prospective study. After detailed history and physical examination, both FNAC and tru-cut biopsy were performed in an outpatient setting. surgery was done for patients diagnosed to have breast cancer.P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The sensitivity of FNAC was 90%, specificity near 100%, while sensitivity of tru-cut biopsy was 97%, and specificity 100%. The findings of this study showed that tru-cut biopsy is superior to FNAC in confirming breast cancer in suspicious lumps, and it is able to give definite histology of the lesion, with low cost and low complication rate as only 2% developed minimal bruising. Tru-cut biopsy is more accurate than FNAC. Tru-cut biopsy was able to give histological diagnosis and results correlated 100% with final histopathology report, with further information about tumor type, grade, lymph vascular invasion, and receptors status. It also permitted the eventual use of preoperative adjuvant therapy