Patient perceptions of breast biopsy procedures for screen-detected lesions.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to compare patient perceptions of 2 common image-guided breast biopsy procedures on 3 main outcomes: decision making about which procedure to undergo, its convenience, and its side effects.


METHODS
Women who had either an excisional or ultrasound-guided core needle breast biopsy in 1997 for a screen-detected lesion had telephone interviews 1 to 3 months after the biopsy. Bivariate associations were tested by using chi(2) and t test statistics. Mulitvariate analyses were used to control for effects of demographic characteristics.


RESULTS
Most women (66%) could not remember being offered a choice of procedures, and of those who did have a choice, a higher proportion had an excisional biopsy. Only 2% reported being told the cost of the biopsy procedure. Women who had an excisional biopsy compared with those who had undergone a core needle biopsy reported statistically more hours and days off from work and reported more side effects 1 to 3 days after the biopsy (P<.05). Associations between side effects and type of biopsy procedure were unchanged when adjustment was made for demographic characteristics.


CONCLUSIONS
Women who had the ultrasound-guided needle biopsy reported significantly fewer side effects and needed less time off from work. When a suspicious lesion is noticed on a screening mammogram, it is important that women and their physicians discuss the benefits and risks of the various biopsy procedures before deciding how to proceed, allowing for informed choice.
Geller
Berta M
BM
Department of Family Practice, Office of Health Promotion Research, University of Vermont, Burlington, 05401-3444, USA. berta.geller@uvm.edu
Oppenheimer
Robert G
RG
Mickey
Ruth M
RM
Worden
John K
JK
D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D014707:Vermont