Authors' reply: Rapid on‐site evaluation of axillary fine‐needle aspiration cytology in breast cancer (Br J Surg 2012; 99: 807–812)

Sir I read this article with interest. I would, however, like to point out that, according to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidelines published in 2009, sentinel node biopsy is only to be carried out where there is ‘no evidence of lymph node involvement on ultrasound or a negative ultrasound-guided needle biopsy’1. Hence the study finding that axillary ultrasonography and fineneedle aspiration cytology (FNAC) avoids the need for sentinel lymph node mapping is a well established fact that is not new. The finding that introduction of rapid on-site evaluation increases the adequacy rate of FNAC is noteworthy. G. Alex Lincoln County Hospital, Lincoln LN4 2AX, UK (e-mail: drgeorgealex@hotmail.com) DOI: 10.1002/bjs.8898