title: Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy: the value and limitations of cores with microcalcifications.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess cores with microcalcifications (CM) and without microcalcifications (CWM) obtained from vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB). The study included 12 atypical ductal hyperplasias (ADH), 37 ductal carcinomas in situ (DCIS), and seven invasive ductal carcinomas (IDC) diagnosed by VABB (11G) on the Fischer's table. More than 24 cores were excised. For CM/CWM, a separate pathology report was given. Open surgery followed, and underestimation was calculated. The CM/CWM discrepancy was evaluated (superiority, identity, and inferiority). CWM failed to make the diagnosis in 8.3% and 35.1% of ADH and DCIS, respectively. In 28.6% of IDC, diagnosis was made through CWM. CM volume was 1.2+/-0.3 cm(3) for the two IDCs missed by CM, 1.0+/-0.4 cm(3) for the 40 cases of identical diagnoses, and 1.4+/-0.5 cm(3) for the 14 cases of CM superiority (p=0.048, Kruskal-Wallis test). CWM volume was 6.3+/-1.8 cm(3) for the two IDCs missed by CM, 2.6+/-1.8 cm(3) for cases with identical diagnoses, and 3.4+/-1.6 cm(3) for cases of CM superiority (p=0.018, Kruskal-Wallis test). The underestimation rate was 8.3% in ADH, and 10.8% in DCIS. CMs are superior in DCIS/ADH diagnosis. However, CWM may be valuable for the diagnosis of the invasive component.
authors.affiliation: Breast Unit, 1st Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Hippokratio Hospital, School of Medicine, Athens University, Greece.
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zagouri
authors.forename: Theodoros N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Sergentanis
authors.forename: Afroditi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nonni
authors.forename: Dimitra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Koulocheri
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fotou
authors.forename: Effrosyni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Panopoulou
authors.forename: Marios
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Panou
authors.forename: Constantine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fotiadis
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bramis
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Zografos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014618:Vacuum