Patient perceptions of stereotaxic large-core breast biopsy.
OBJECTIVE
The authors evaluated the perceptions of patients who underwent stereotaxic core breast biopsy before and after the procedure.


METHODS
By using a standard questionnaire, 58 patients undergoing stereotaxic core breast biopsy with a 14-gauge needle were interviewed immediately before, immediately after, and 24 hours and 5 days after the procedure.


RESULTS
Discomfort recorded by patients 24 hours after core biopsy correlated with the amount of time needed before normal activities were resumed (P = .001). Only five patients (9%) indicated severe discomfort during the procedure. Patient age, number of core biopsy samples taken, and lesion depth did not correlate with level of discomfort. Fifty-five patients (95%) resumed normal activities within 24 hours. However, 41 patients (71%) had some breast bruising as many as 5 days after the procedure. Overall, patient satisfaction with care was high; 56 patients (97%) stated they would return for another biopsy in the future.


CONCLUSIONS
The morbidity associated with stereotaxic core breast biopsy is low, although the majority of patients in this series experienced bruising lasting as long as 5 days after the procedure. Despite this, almost all patients would return for a core breast biopsy in the future, if indicated.
Handy
R B
RB
Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson 85724, USA.
Fajardo
L L
LL
Innis
C A
CA
Witzke
D B
DB
Hunter
T B
TB
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000209:etiology; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D001940:Breast / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D003288:Contusions / Q000209:etiology; D003657:Decision Making; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors