Comparison of accuracy of drill biopsy and frozen section in the diagnosis of breast lesions

ABSTRACT

Two methods of preoperative diagnosis of breast masses; namely, drill biopsy and frozen section were evaluated and compared at the National Cancer Institute during 1986. Fifty-three patients were subjected to drill biopsy in the outpatient clinic; whereas, 178 consecutive patients were subjected to frozen section examination with or without subsequent radical mastectomy. The overall accuracy [sensitivity] of drill biopsy was 94.3% with an accuracy of 93.4% in malignant tumors and 100% in benign tumors. Two false negative results were obtained, but no false positive results were encountered. As regard frozen sections, the overall accuracy was 97.7%. The diagnosis accuracy was 97.4% in malignant tumors and 100% in benign tumors. No false +ve results were encountered