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The use of fine needle aspiration and core biopsy of the breast

The purpose of this Position Statement is to provide guidance on the use of fine needle aspiration (FNA) and core biopsy for the assessment of abnormalities identified through population screening for breast cancer. The Position Statement will establish national BreastScreen Australia policy on breast biopsy and support best practice care in the BreastScreen Australia program.

2020 Last Revised & Updated
2020 First published

Introduction

Cancer Australia develops position statements using the best available evidence to provide national leadership and direction on issues with an impact on cancer, which are of clinical significance, emerging in cancer control, or of significant community interest.

BreastScreen Australia is Australia’s national population-based screening program for breast cancer. BreastScreen Australia services are delivered by state and territory governments, through dedicated, accredited Screening and Assessment Services (SAS).

The BreastScreen Australia Program aims to reduce morbidity and mortality from breast cancer through an organised systematic approach to the early detection of breast cancer using screening mammography. 

Provision of a high-quality service to women is of great importance to BreastScreen Australia. For this reason, services accredited under BreastScreen Australia are expected to operate according to the BreastScreen Australia National Accreditation Standards (NAS), along with national policies and protocols. 

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References

  1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2015. BreastScreen Australia data dictionary: version 1.1. Cancer series no. 92. Cat. no. CAN 90. Canberra: AIHW.
  2. BreastScreen Australia Clinical Advisory Committee. Use of Fine Needle Aspiration in BreastScreen Australia Services. 2017 [available from: http://www.cancerscreening.gov.au/internet/screening/publishing.nsf/Content/cac-Use-of-Fine-Needle-Aspiration] 
  3. Bonifacino, A., et al. (2005) “Accuracy rates of US-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsy.” Anticancer Research 25: 2465-2470. 
  4. Cancer Australia (2017). Investigation of a new breast symptom - a guide for general practitioners. 2017 [available from: https://canceraustralia.gov.au/publications-and-resources/cancer-australia-publications/investigation-new-breast-symptom-guide-general-practitioners] 
  5. Cancer Australia. Early detection of breast cancer. 2015 [Available from: https://canceraustralia.gov.au/publications-and-resources/position-statements/early-detection-breast-cancer.
  6. Łukasiewicz E, Ziemiecka A, Jakubowski W, Vojinovic J, Bogucevska M, Dobruch-Sobczak K: Fine-needle versus core-needle biopsy – which one to choose in preoperative assessment of focal lesions in the breasts? Literature review. J Ultrason 2017; 17: 267–274.
  7. Lieske, B., et al. (2006). "Role of fine-needle aspiration cytology and core biopsy in the preoperative diagnosis of screen-detected breast carcinoma." British Journal of Cancer 95(1): 62-66.
  8. Liikanen, J., et al. (2016). "Breast cancer prognosis and isolated tumor cell findings in axillary lymph nodes after core needle biopsy and fine needle aspiration cytology Biopsy method and breast cancer outcome." European Journal of Surgical Oncology 42(1): 64-70.
  9. Mak, W. S., et al. (2012). "Ultrasound-guided biopsy of solid breast lesions: Should fine-needle aspiration be replaced by core biopsy?" Hong Kong Journal of Radiology 15(1): 10-14.
  10. Mitra S, Dey P. Fine-needle aspiration and core biopsy in the diagnosis of breast lesions: A comparison and review of the literature. CytoJournal 2016; 13:18.
  11. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2018) Breast cancer screening and diagnosis. Version 3.2018. Available at: https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/default.aspx. 
  12. National Health Service (2016) NHS Breast Screening Programme. Clinical guidance for breast cancer screening assessment. NHSBSP publication number 49. 
  13. Sardanelli, F., et al. (2017). "Position paper on screening for breast cancer by the European Society of Breast Imaging (EUSOBI) and 30 national breast radiology bodies from Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Israel, Lithuania, Moldova, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey." European Radiology 27(7): 2737-2743.
  14. The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia. (2018). ASCO CAP 2018 HER2 Testing for Breast Cancer Guidelines - Recommendations for Practice in Australasia. https://www.rcpa.edu.au/Library/College-Policies/Guidelines/ASCO-CAP-2018-HER2-Testing-for-Breast-Cancer-Guide. Access date 21 March 2019. 
  15. Wang, M., et al. (2017). "A sensitivity and specificity comparison of fine needle aspiration cytology and core needle biopsy in evaluation of suspicious breast lesions: A systematic review and meta-analysis." Breast 31: 157-166.
  16. Willems S M, van Deurzen CHM, van Diest PJ. (2012) Diagnosis of breast lesions: fine-needle aspiration cytology or core needle biopsy? A review. J Clin Pathol 65:287e292.
Last updated 15 January 2025
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