title: Preoperative core needle biopsy does not increase local recurrence rate in breast cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several case reports and clinical studies in the literature demonstrate needle track seeding after core needle biopsy in patients with breast cancer in up to 50% of cases. The impact of this observation on local recurrence and overall survival rate is, however, not fully investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analysed 719 patients after breast conserving surgery and postoperative radiotherapy for stage I and II breast cancer. We divided this group into patients with (189) and without (530) preoperative core needle biopsy. Demographic data, local recurrence and overall survival rate were compared between these two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preoperative core needle biopsy did not significantly influence the local free recurrence rate (median follow-up time of 78 and 71 months, respectively). The prognostic factors and the postoperative therapy did not differ significantly between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative core needle biopsy seems to have no detrimental impact on local recurrence and overall survival after breast conserving surgery and postoperative radiotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, General Hospital, University Vienna, Waehringer Guertd 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. florian.fitzal@meduniwien.ac
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fitzal
authors.forename: Emanuel P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Sporn
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Draxler
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mittlböck
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taucher
authors.forename: Margaretha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rudas
authors.forename: Otto
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Riedl
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Helbich
authors.forename: Raimund
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jakesz
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gnant
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate