Stereotactic breast biopsy of clustered microcalcifications with a directional, vacuum-assisted device.
The success rate with the traditional 14-gauge, core-biopsy, multiple-pass technique was compared with that of a directional vacuum-assisted device in sampling calcification clusters in the breast. Of the 130 focal calcification clusters sampled with the multiple-pass technique, 12 clusters (9.2%) had no particles depicted on radiographs of the specimen. Specimens from all 106 (100%) clusters sampled with the directional, vacuum-assisted instrument contained calcifications at radiography. The directional, vacuum-assisted device improved the ability to percutaneously sample breast calcifications.
Meyer
J E
JE
Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Smith
D N
DN
DiPiro
P J
PJ
Denison
C M
CM
Frenna
T H
TH
Harvey
S C
SC
Ko
W D
WD
D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D014618:Vacuum