Stereotaxic core needle aspiration biopsy with multiple passes in nonpalpable breast lesions.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the grade of histologic agreement between stereotaxic core needle aspiration biopsy (SCNAB) with multiple passes, and surgical excision.


METHODS
A total of 180 patients with 182 nonpalpable breast lesions underwent SCNAB with multiple passes in an upright add-on stereotaxic device using a manual 1.8-mm needle (15 G). In this group, 125 patients underwent subsequent surgical excision.


RESULTS
A SCNAB result indicative of malignancy (invasive or noninvasive carcinoma) was obtained in 68 (87%) of the 78 breast carcinomas (14 noninvasive and 64 invasive) and definitive surgical therapy with a one-stage procedure was performed. Complete or partial agreement between core biopsy and surgery was observed in 19 (86%) of 22 invasive or noninvasive carcinomas discovered by microcalcifications, 40 (97.5%) of 41 invasive carcinomas discovered by a mass, and 9 (60%) of 15 invasive or noninvasive carcinomas discovered by architectural distortion. Six (33%) of the 18 patients whose core biopsies showed noninvasive carcinoma had an invasive or microinvasive component at subsequent surgery. Atypical hyperplasia or benign core biopsy was observed in 6 (8%) and 4 (5%) breast carcinomas respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
SCNAB with multiple passes is a reliable method for identifying nonpalpable lesions in patients with noninvasive or invasive carcinomas discovered by respectively microcalcifications or mass.
Department of Radiology, Marqués de Valdecilla Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Santander, Spain.
A
A
Vega Bolivar
E
E
Ortega García
F
F
Garijo Ayensa
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles; D010173:Palpation