Abstract
Purpose.
The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy and clinical usefulness of stereotactic vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) for diagnosing suspicious, nonpalpable, only mammographically detectable breast lesions.
Materials and methods.
We retrospectively evaluated the results of percutaneous stereotactic VAB with 11-gauge needles performed over a period of 34 months on 228 nonpalpable suspicious breast lesions detectable on mammography only [Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) 3: 25.9%; BI-RADS 4: 67.1%; BI-RADS 5: 7%]. The imaginghistological concordance was ascertained for each lesion. In cases of discordance, repeat biopsy or surgical excision were recommended; in cases of benign lesions, we urged a follow-up of at least 6 months and for borderline and malignant lesions a surgical excision. We also evaluated concordance between VAB results and subsequent examinations (surgical excision or followup).
Results.
VAB demonstrated 123 (54%) benign lesions (with six cases of imaging–histological discordance), 26 (11.4%) borderline lesions and 79 (34.6%) malignant lesions. We obtained a suitable post-VAB mammographic or histological evaluation for 78 benign lesions, 17 borderline lesions and 76 malignant lesions, with one (1.3%) false negative (FN) case, two (11.8%) underestimations of borderline lesions, 14 (18.4%) underestimations of malignant lesions and no (0%) false positive cases. We did not observe any postbiopsy complications or scars.
Conclusions.
Percutaneous histological VAB with an 11-gauge needle proved to be, as reported in previous studies, a reliable method for diagnosing nonpalpable, mammographically detectable only breast lesions, with an underestimation rate lower than core biopsy and a FN rate similar to that of surgical biopsy, without any significant complications.
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Zuiani, C., Mazzarella, F., Londero, V. et al. Stereotactic vacuum-assisted breast biopsy: results, follow-up and correlation with radiological suspicion. Radiol med 112, 304–317 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-007-0143-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-007-0143-7