title: Long-term results after excision of breast mass using a vacuum-assisted biopsy device.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The excision of breast lesions using an ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy device (VABD) is a widely used technique for the diagnosis and treatment of breast disease, but the results of long-term follow-up after VABD excision of benign breast tumours have not been reported. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of long-term follow-up after complete excision of benign breast tumours using an ultrasound-guided VABD.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective clinical study. Between January 2001 and December 2004, patients who had undergone VABD excision of benign breast tumours and been followed up by clinical examination and ultrasonography for 2 years or more were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred eighty-four cases representing 153 patients were studied. The median follow-up period was 33 months (range, 24-67 months). All lesions were histologically benign. The mean size of the lesions was 1.09 +/- 0.57 cm (range, 0.3-3.03 cm). Within 2 years after VABD excision, residual lesions were detected in 10% of patients sonographically, but after 2 years or more, residual masses were found in 6.5% of patients. Scar changes also decreased from 36.0% to 15.8% during the period of follow-up. Finally, the benign breast tumours were completely excised without residual masses in 93.5% of the participant patients. Residual masses developed in two fibroadenoma cases (1.08%); one was re-excised and the other was followed serially.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound-guided VABD excision is a minimally invasive technique for the complete removal of benign breast tumours. The results of this long-term follow-up of VABD excisions are comparable to conventional methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Pyung-Dong Jongro-Ku, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Cha Kyong
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Yom
authors.forename: Byung In
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Kuk Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.forename: Hye Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Yong Lai
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D018226:Fibroadenoma / Q000601:surgery; D005348:Fibrocystic Breast Disease / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary; D014618:Vacuum; D055815:Young Adult