Preoperative core needle biopsy does not increase local recurrence rate in breast cancer patients.
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.
Fitzal
Florian
F
Department of Surgery, General Hospital, University Vienna, Waehringer Guertd 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria. florian.fitzal@meduniwien.ac
Sporn
Emanuel P
EP
Draxler
Wolfgang
W
Mittlböck
Martina
M
Taucher
Susanne
S
Rudas
Margaretha
M
Riedl
Otto
O
Helbich
Thomas H
TH
Jakesz
Raimund
R
Gnant
Michael
M
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