African journal of medicine and medical sciences
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Within the period August 1984 to January 1987, 209 needle aspirates of breast lumps were examined cytologically. One hundred and forty-four smears had histological confirmation. The diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology for malignancy is 79% in this study, with a specificity of 97%. The role of fine needle aspiration cytology, as a useful diagnostic tool and a necessary adjunct to clinical examination in the assessment of breast lumps is discussed.