title: Vacuum-assisted core-needle biopsy as a diagnostic and therapeutic method in lesions radiologically suspicious of breast fibroadenoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment of breast fibroadenoma remains a subject of clinical discussion. Recommended methods include clinical observation or surgical excision of the lesion. The procedure involves hospitalisation and anaesthesia, leaving a scar on the breast.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to present the Centre's experience in removing lesions radiologically suspicious of fibroadenoma by means of an ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted core-needle biopsy as an alternative to a classical surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between March 2007 and April 2010, 196 ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted biopsies were performed in the Mammotome Biopsy Laboratory of the 1st Surgical Oncology and General Surgery Department at the Greater Poland Cancer Centre in Poznań. The procedure was delivered to female patients aged 17-91 years (mean 40.8, median 39). Qualified for removal were ultrasound identified lesions described as fibroadenomas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average size of excised lesions according to pre-biopsy ultrasound image was 13.53 ± 8.92 mm (median 11 mm, range 4-60 mm). In 184 cases (93.9%), benign lesions were found in the final histopathologic examination. Pre-cancer lesions were found in 10 cases, and invasive lesions in two cases. Overall, after follow-up ultrasound examination, four patients were qualified for subsequent surgical resection of lesions that had been left behind.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vacuum core-needle biopsy is an effective tool enabling removal of breast fibroadenomas. It combines features of a lesion resection and histopathologic material collection providing an access with minimum invasiveness.
authors.affiliation: 1st Surgical Oncology and General Surgery Dept., Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Karol
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Połom
authors.affiliation: 1st Surgical Oncology and General Surgery Dept., Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Dawid
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Murawa
authors.affiliation: 1st Surgical Oncology and General Surgery Dept., Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nowaczyk
authors.affiliation: 1st Surgical Oncology and General Surgery Dept., Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Adamczyk
authors.affiliation: 1st Surgical Oncology and General Surgery Dept., Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giles
authors.affiliation: 1st Surgical Oncology and General Surgery Dept., Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fertsch
authors.affiliation: Biostatistcs Dept., University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Michalak
authors.affiliation: 1st Surgical Oncology and General Surgery Dept., Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Murawa
keywords: Breast biopsy; Cosmetic effect; Fibroadenoma