Objective: In which way is the biochemical analysis of fine needle biopsy comparable to the biochemical analysis of conventional surgical biopsy samples in the examination of prognosis factors in mammary carcinomas.
Material and methods: Conventional surgical biopsy and fine needle biopsy were performed on 63 mammary carcinomas. The results from the biochemical analysis of tissue samples, from each form of biopsy, with respect to estradiol and progesterone receptor, UPA and PAI-1, as well as Kathepsin D and the EGF receptor, were compared and statistically analyzed.
Results: When compared to conventional tissue biopsy samples, the sensitivity and specificity of the measured prognosis factors in fine needle biopsy tissue were variable for each parameter, but fell within the statistically safe margin of 86 to 100%.
Conclusions: The biochemical analysis of the prognosis factors found in fine needle biopsy samples showed that fine needle biopsy is a viable alternative to intraoperative conventional surgical biopsy.