title: Is 6-Month Radiologic Imaging Necessary after Benign Breast Biopsy? Review of Literature and Multicenter Experience.
abstract: A retrospective study of 786 patients was conducted to determine the necessity of a 6-month interval study after a benign stereotactic or ultrasound-guided breast biopsy. These results were compared with those of other centers. After reviewing the data, we found few patients developed cancer after their original biopsy, and for those that did, the 6-month study did not contribute to an earlier diagnosis. Those short-term interval radiologic studies that were interpreted as concerning were all benign when biopsied. A 6-month study contributes to higher costs of health care and can be inconvenient, painful, and anxiety producing to patients. Short-interval follow-up was found to be unnecessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Abington Memorial Hospital, Abington, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Alina M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Mateo
authors.forename: Arthur M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Frankel
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D061705:Image-Guided Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods*; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors