ABSTRACT

Management of the patient with a breast mass varies according to age, history and clinical findings. Triple test consisting of physical examination, mammography and fine needle aspiration cytology is the best clinical approach to the diagnosis and management of patients with a palpable mass in patients older than 40 years of age. Fine needle aspiration cytology and core biopsy both have advantages and disadvantages but neither of them can act as a decisive diagnostic procedure on its own. The final diagnosis should always be a consensus between the three diagnostic modalities in the triple test. The diagnostic accuracy of these three tests taken together approaches 100%. If one of the “triple test” components is discordant, the entire diagnosis is uncertain and each of the “triple test” findings will need to be reviewed before proceeding. Triple test is cost effective, easy to perform and time saving approach, however, it can be applied only in those institutions where excellent imaging facilities and the method requires an experienced cytopathologist.