title: [Vacuum needle biopsy of the breast with digital stereotaxic control--initial experiences with the Mammotome in Baden].
abstract: The purpose of our study was to evaluate a stereotactic, percutaneous, vacuum-assisted breast biopsy system. The Mammotome (Biopsies) was used to perform breast biopsies in 35 of 37 patients using only one small incision. In two patients a biopsy was not possible: one lesion could not be positioned into the limited field of the digital CCD-camera. One lesion was not enough dense to be seen on digital images. Biopsies were performed because of suspicious microcalcifications (34) or nodules (3). Histology revealed 32 benign and 3 malignant lesions. We encountered 4 syncopes. Because the biopsies are performed in the sitting position, they were the cause we had to break up 2 biopsies. Relevant hematomas occurred in 4 cases. Vacuum assisted core biopsy has proven to be a safe and accurate technique for obtaining a histologic diagnosis in most patients who have screening-detected lesions; it is done at a lower cost with lower resultant morbidity to the patient compared with traditional surgical excisional biopsy. A certain learning phase must be granted.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Röntgendiagnostik, Kantonsspital Baden.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wetter
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Otto
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005348:Fibrocystic Breast Disease / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation*