Mammographic findings after 14-gauge automated needle and 14-gauge directional, vacuum-assisted stereotactic breast biopsies.
OBJECTIVE
To compare findings from first imaging follow-up mammography for breast lesions shown to be benign at stereotactic biopsy with 14-gauge automated needles or 14-gauge directional, vacuum-assisted probes.


METHODS
In 495 stereotactic breast biopsies, the mammographic appearance of the biopsy site or target lesion was evaluated at first imaging follow-up with a four-point scale (1 = progression of lesion or suspicious interval change [repeat biopsy], 2 = no clinically relevant change, 3 = interval decrease in size of lesion or number of microcalcifications, and 4 = no residual mammographic lesion). An automated needle was used in 363 biopsies and a directional, vacuum-assisted probe was used in 132 biopsies. Patient and lesion variables and time to first imaging follow-up were compared for the two techniques.


RESULTS
No biopsy site or target lesion was assigned a score of 1 at first imaging follow-up with either technique. No lesion was referred for repeat biopsy because of the mammographic appearance at first imaging follow-up. First imaging follow-up was performed an average of 6.6 months for the directional, vacuum-assisted biopsies and 8.6 months for the automated needle biopsies (P < .0001). This difference reflected a difference in scheduling methods.


CONCLUSIONS
Directional, vacuum-assisted and automated needle breast biopsies produced no distortion or suspicious interval change at the biopsy site at the first follow-up mammographic examination.
Burbank
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Mission Breast Care Center, Mission Medical Tower, Mission Viejo, CA 92691, USA.
D000359:Aftercare; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D013396:Suction; D013997:Time Factors