A CROSS-SECTIONAL RESEARCH TO ASSESS THE RELIABILITY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF FNAC (FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION CYTOLOGY) AMONG BREAST LUMP PATIENTS

Objective: The objective of this research is to assess the FNAC (Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology) diagnostic accuracy among breast lump patients with the help of a gold standard histopathology. Material and Methods: We conducted this cross-sectional research at Services Hospital, Lahore (Surgical Department) in the timeframe of February to November 2017. The research sample comprised of 200 breast lump patients. Results: In the total of 200 breast lump patients the factor of mean age was (35.45 ± 8.57) years. Various age groups were made out of the total research sample. The age bracket of (20 – 30) years included 90 patients (45%), the age bracket of (31 – 40) years included 47 patients (23.5%), the age bracket of (41 – 50) years included 32 patients (16%), the age bracket of (51 – 60) years included 29 patients (14.5%) and lastly above sixty years included 2 patients (1%). Among two hundred patients 7 patients were male (3.5%) and 193 patients were female (96.5%). The outcomes of histopathology of breast lesions reflected 53 malignant cases (26.5%) and 147 benign cases (73.5%). Outcomes reflected FNAC as gold standards for histopathological outcomes. Forty-nine patients were TP (True Positive) (24.5%), sixteen patients were FP (False Positive) (8%), eight patients were FN (False Negative) (4%) and 127 patients were TN (True Negative) (63.5%). The values of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV & NPV) were respectively 85.96%, 88.81%, 75.38% and 94.07%. Conclusion: FNAC (Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology) diagnostic accuracy among breast lump patients is undoubtedly a gold standard diagnostic tool with greater specificity and sensitivity, cost-effective and less invasive diagnostic procedure. Keywords: Diagnostic Accuracy, Breast Lump, FNAC (Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology), Specificity and Sensitivity