Out-patient diagnosis of breast cancer

A method of diagnosis of the solid discrete breast lump using frozen section examination of a Tru‐cut needle biopsy is described. In 194 patients, the Tru‐cut biopsy report is compared to the histological report of the excised lesion. Overall accuracy is 90 per cent, sensitivity 89 per cent, specificity 96 per cent, predictive value of a positive report 99 per cent, and predictive value of a negative report 56 per cent. The advantage of the technique is that many patients with breast cancer can be informed of the diagnosis at their first attendance.