Follow-up of benign results of stereotactic core breast biopsy.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to obtain long-term follow-up data on women with benign histologic results of a breast stereotactic core needle biopsy (CNB).


METHODS
Mammography charts of 300 consecutive women who underwent prone stereotactic CNB with digital radiography were reviewed. Women with frankly malignant or suspicious histologic findings (51 patients) or a technically unsuccessful stereotactic CNB (one patient) were excluded. The remaining 248 benign core biopsies in 229 women were included in the study.


RESULTS
Follow-up mammograms were obtained for 152 lesions with benign histologic results following stereotactic CNB. The mean length of follow-up after stereotactic CNB was 34.6 months. Cancer was diagnosed in six women who underwent surgical biopsies 1/2 to 30 months after benign stereotactic CNB. An initial chart review demonstrated that no follow-up data were available for 64 lesions, and information was missing for an additional seven.


CONCLUSIONS
SCNB remains a sampling procedure that can result in false-negative histologic results. Intrinsic procedural issues were identified that could minimize the potential for missing a malignancy. Goals for patient compliance with follow-up recommendations fell short of expectations.
Adler
D D
DD
Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Hospitals, Ann Arbor 48109-0326, USA.
Light
R J
RJ
Granstrom
P
P
Hunter
T B
TB
Hunt
K R
KR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D018450:Disease Progression; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques