Accuracy of Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor Assessment in Core Needle Biopsy Specimens of Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of breast cancer is completed through core needle biopsy (CNB) of the tumors but there is controversy on the accuracy of hormone receptor results on CNB specimens. OBJECTIVES: We undertook this study to compare the results of hormone receptor assessment in CNB and surgical samples on our patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Hormone receptor status was determined in CNB and surgical samples in breast cancer patients whose CNB and operation had been performed in this institute from 2009 to 2011 and had not undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: About 350 patients, 60 cases met all the criteria for entering the study. The mean age was 49.8 years. Considering a confidence interval (CI) of 95%, the sensitivity of ER and PR assessment in CNB was 92.9% and 81%, respectively and the specificity of both was 100%. The Accuracy of CNB was 98% for ER and 93% for PR. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm the acceptable accuracy of ER assessment on CNB. The subject needs further investigation in developing countries where omission of the test in surgical samples can be cost and time-saving.