Diagnostic accuracy of Trucut biopsy in the detection of breast lumps

Objective: to determine the diagnostic accuracy of trucut biopsy in the detection of breast lump,taking post-surgical histopathology as gold standard. study design: cross-sectional survey subjects & methodology: the study was conducted at the department of surgery,sahiwal medical college/dhq teaching hospital,sahiwal,from 07-02-2011 to 6-02-2012. a total of 40 married and unmarried females > 15 years of age with clinically palpable lump in the breast were recruited in this study. all female patients having acute breast abscess,previously operated and non-motivated patients were excluded from study. informed consent was taken from all patients for performing trucut biopsy before surgery. it was a cross-sectional descriptive study. demographic data was recorded. previous history was taken and physical examination was done. the core biopsy was performed by using a trucut gun with an 18-gauge needle. the samples were sent for histology. results: diagnostic accuracy of trucut biopsy in diagnosis of breast lumps was 90% while sensitivity 96.7%,specificity 70%,positive predictive value 90.6% and negative predictive value was 87.5%. conclusion: with the help of trucut/core needle biopsy many patients can be prevented from unnecessary surgery. it helps in diagnosing breast cancer in younger aged patients having suspicious lumps.