Assessing the Accuracy of Core-Needle Biopsy for Breast Mass Diagnosis at Two Referral Hospitals in Sana’a City, Yemen

Export Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the accuracy of core-needle biopsy (CNB) for breast mass diagnosis at Al-Thawra Modern General Hospital (TMGH) and Al-Kuwait University Hospital (KUH) in Sana’a, Yemen. Methods: This three-and-a-half-year prospective study was conducted at TMGH and KUH in Sana’a city, Yemen, from July 2019 to December 2022. All patients presenting with a breast mass were initially recruited for the study. Male patients, those with benign lesions not planned for surgery, and patients lost to follow-up were excluded. Therefore, a total of 93 female patients with a mean age of 43.46 years participated in the study. Data were collected using a clinical case sheet in which demographic data (age, sex, and contact information), preoperative characteristics (family medical history, primary diagnosis, chief complaints, clinical features, type of intervention, etc.), and postoperative outcomes (histopathology report) were included. The data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: The CNB reached an accuracy value of 98.92% with a sensitivity and specificity rates of 90.91 and 100%, respectively, and it had a positive-predictive value and a negative-predictive value of 100.0 and 98.80%, respectively. It also reached true positive, true negative, false positive, and false negative values of 100, 98.8, 1.2, and 0.0%, respectively. There is a significant and strong association between the results of CNB and excisional biopsy histology (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The CNB diagnostic method is significantly correlated with excisional biopsy in diagnosing breast masses; therefore, it can be considered the gold standard diagnostic method for early diagnosis, the characterization of breast masses, and the formulation of the proper treatment plan. The accuracy comparison between palpation-guided CNB and ultrasound-guided CNB did not affect the outcome of the treatment plan in superficially located and large breast masses. The high sensitivity, specificity, and negative-predictive value exhibited by CNB for hormonal receptor allowed surgeons to clearly decide which patient needs preoperative endocrine therapy.