Concordance Rate between Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy and Core Needle Biopsy in Breast Lesions

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is one of the methods of breast biopsy which is fast, easy and cost effective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concordance rate between pathologic results of sonography or stereotaxy guided FNAB and guided core needle biopsy (CNB) in the evaluation of breast lesions. During December 2010 until March 2011, 36 female patients with 37 breast lesions referred to FNAB and CNB with the guide of sonography in 35 lesions and with the guide of stereotaxy in 2 lesions. The kappa statistic used to calculate the concordance coefficient. The concordance rate between guided – FNAB and guided – CNB was 93% with using kappa coefficient. In 5 patients, subjected to breast surgery, malignancy was reported as well as in guided-FNAB or guided-CNB. Because of high concordance between these two techniques in the assessment of breast lesions, guided FNAB is recommended in the first step. Guided-CNB can be reserved for lesions with insufficient pathology results by guided-FNAB.