Referral patterns for the evaluation of non-palpable breast abnormalities.
BACKGROUND
Non-palpable suspicious mammographic abnormalities require image-guided breast biopsies. In this study, we examined primary care physicians' knowledge of breast biopsy procedures for non-palpable lesions and referral patterns for breast biopsies; we also identified channels to disseminate information.


METHODS
We mailed a baseline survey to all primary care physicians, surgeons, and radiologists in Vermont.


RESULTS
Primary care physicians are more likely to refer for excisional rather than percutaneous biopsy. Unlike surgeons and radiologists who learned about these procedures through journals and professional meetings, primary care physicians' most common source of information was from radiologists.


CONCLUSIONS
Information about indications for using percutaneous breast biopsy should be available in journals and at meetings to help primary care providers decide on the most appropriate algorithm of workup for patients with non-palpable suspicious breast abnormalities requiring biopsy.
Geller
B M
BM
University of Vermont, Office of Health Promotion Research, Burlington 05401-3444, USA.
Oppenheimer
R G
RG
Worden
J K
JK
Ashley
J A
JA
D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008329:Managed Care Programs; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary; D014707:Vermont