Advanced breast biopsy instrumentation for the evaluation of impalpable lesions: a reliable diagnostic tool with little therapeutic potential.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the potential of advanced breast biopsy instrumentation (ABBI) to clarify the diagnosis of impalpable mammographic lesions and to remove the entire malignant lesions with clear margins.


METHODS
Prospective assessment in a consecutive series of patients.


METHODS
University hospital, Basel, Switzerland.


METHODS
139 patients presenting with 144 impalpable microcalcifications or solid nodular densities evident on screening and follow-up mammograms that were suspicious of malignancy.


METHODS
Feasibility, sensitivity, efficiency in obtaining definitive diagnoses in an outpatient clinic under local anaesthesia, feasibility of complete removal of a primary malignancy, and intervention-related morbidity.


RESULTS
The ABBI procedure was successful in 135/144 (94%); an accurate diagnosis was made in 129/130 patients followed up (99%), sensitivity for malignant lesions was 31/32 (97%) and there were 2 complications (2%). Margins of the biopsy cylinder contained a malignant lesion in 26/31 (84%).


CONCLUSIONS
Excisional biopsy using the ABBI system is a reliable diagnostic tool with a low morbidity. As in other published series margins were often not clear of tumour and therefore the therapeutic use of the ABBI procedure is limited.
Marti
W R
WR
Department of Surgery, University of Basel, Switzerland.
Zuber
M
M
Oertli
D
D
Weber
W P
WP
Müller
D
D
Köchli
O R
OR
Langer
I
I
Harder
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013238:Stereotaxic Techniques