Evaluation of 14- and 11-gauge directional, vacuum-assisted biopsy probes and 14-gauge biopsy guns in a breast parenchymal model.
OBJECTIVE
To compare commercially available 14-guage core biopsy guns and 11- and 14-gauge, directional, vaccum-assisted biopsy probes for tissue yield and fragmentation.


METHODS
One hundred passes were made through fresh turkey breasts by using each of 11 14-gauge, automated biopsy gun-needle combinations and a directional, stereotactic, vacuum-assisted biopsy system equipped with 11- or 14-gauge probes. Specimens were measured for total weight, individual length, diameter, and number of fragments.


RESULTS
Among the handheld devices, the Pro-Mag 2.2 gun (Manan Medical Products, Northbrook, Ill) and 14-gauge Biopsy-Cut needle (Bard, Covington, Ga) had the greatest yield (17.7 mg per core specimen); this combination also produced the greatest percentage of nonfragmented cores (83%). Directional, vacuum-assisted biopsy specimens were significantly larger (P < .001): 36.8 mg per core specimen for the 14-gauge probe and 94.4 mg per core specimen for the 11-gauge probe. Specimens obtained with directional, vacuum-assisted biopsy were more fragmented than those obtained with spring-actuated, two-stage, long-throw, automated biopsy systems.


CONCLUSIONS
Statistically significant differences with various biopsy devices are seen in the breast tissue yield and in fragmentation.
Berg
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WA
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201, USA.
Krebs
T L
TL
Campassi
C
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Magder
L S
LS
Sun
C C
CC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques; D014422:Turkeys