[Diagnostic value and health economic evaluation of ultrasound-combined fine-needle aspiration cytology in primary breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the diagnostic value and health economic evaluation of ultrasound-combined fine-needle aspiration cytology for axillary lymph node status in breast cancer.

METHODS

We reviewed retrospectively collected the data from 2503 cases of biopsy-proved breast cancer (T0-2) at our breast center between May 2005 and June 2010. The diagnostic fees of ultrasound-combined fine-needle aspiration cytology and clinical examination were calculated and assessed with cost-minimization analysis.

RESULTS

Ultrasound-combined fine-needle aspiration cytology prevented 10.9 percent of the patients with positive clinical findings from unnecessary sentinel lymph node biopsy and achieved a saving of 155.55 RMB per patient. However, only 29.4 percent of the cases were diagnosed with ultrasonographic abnormal axillary nodes.

CONCLUSIONS

Ultrasound-combined fine-needle aspiration cytology has great application values. The ultrasonic diagnostic criteria of abnormal axillary nodes should be loosened.