title: Nationwide survey of use of vacuum-assisted breast biopsy in South Korea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Image-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) is used for detecting breast lesions in South Korea. However, no clear guidelines for VABB exist.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 53-item survey was administered to members of the Korean Breast Cancer Society between July 27 and August 27, 2010.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 62 respondents, 87.1% had performed VABB, with 63.0% performing both diagnosis and treatment. Around 62.5% used VABB for diagnosing Ultrasound Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (USG BIRAD) Category 3 lesions, 55% for Category 4A, 57.5% for microcalcifications detected by ultrasonography, and 30% for small Category 5. Furthermore, 81.3% used VABB to treat Category 3 lesions; while 67.8% diagnosed benign lesions on core needle biopsy, requiring surgical excision. About 83% used VABB for small tumors (<3 cm). Among therapeutically excised tumors, 86.4% reported fibroadenoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VABB is performed for diagnosis and treatment in South Korea, and complies with the available guidelines. However, national and global standards and guidelines for VABB need to be established.
authors.affiliation: Division of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kangnam Cha Hospital, Cha University College of Medicine, 650-9 Yeoksam-dong, Kangnam-gu, Seoul 135-081, South Korea. phl1@cha.ac.kr
authors.forename: Hai-Lin
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sun Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Sea-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Jung-Yoon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Hyukjai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Seok-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.forename: Jung-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D062005:Biopsy, Large-Core Needle / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D005348:Fibrocystic Breast Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D056910:Republic of Korea; D014618:Vacuum