title: Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy in nonpalpable solid breast lesions without microcalcifications: the Greek experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present the initial Greek experience with vacuumassisted breast biopsy (VABB) in the diagnosis of nonpalpable solid mammographic lesions without microcalcifications.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed 83 VABB procedures (using a Fischer table and 11-guage Mammotome probes) in an 18- month period on women with nonpalpable solid breast tumors. We performed VABB procedures on women with breast imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS) categories 3 and 4. VABB procedures excised more than 24 cores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-three women with nonpalpable lesions identified on mammography were evaluated; 42.2% were BI-RADS category 3, and 57.8% were BI-RADS 4. Of all solid tumors excised, 83.1% were benign, 3.6% were precursor lesions, and 13.3% of the lesions were malignant. No underestimation occurred. Clinically important hematoma developed in 4.8% of cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VABB is an effective method for the diagnosis of nonpalpable solid lesions because of the lack of underestimation, although it is technically more difficult to focus on lesions without microcalcifications than those with microcalcifications on the Fischer table.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Athens Hippokratio Hospital, Breast Unit, Athens, Greece. gzografo@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zografos
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: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dardamanis
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Oikonomou
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giannopoulos
authors.forename: Ilias
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kouerinis
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsigris
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bramis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D042361:Mammary Glands, Human / Q000473:pathology*; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014618:Vacuum