title: Comparison on the use of semi-automated and automated core biopsy needle in ultrasound guided breast biopsy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the use of semi-automated (Medax Velox 2; Poggio Rusco, Italy) and automated (Bard Magnum Biopsy Instrument; Covington, GA, USA) core biopsy needles, for ultrasound guided breast biopsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 14G semi-automatic spring loaded core biopsy needle with a 22-mm-throw (Medax Velox 2; Poggio Rusco, Italy) and 14-gauge automated needle device with a 22-mm-throw biopsy gun (Bard-Magnum Biopsy Instrument, Covington, GA, USA) were used for breast biopsies under ultrasound guidance on alternate months during the study period between July 2009 and May 2011. One hundred and sixty lesions were biopsied and specimens were sent for histological evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The automated needle obtained a higher number of histology reports at 84% (67/80) as compared with the semiautomated needle at 60% (48/80) (Fisher exact test, p value=0.023). Inadequate samples with the automated needle were much less at 9% (7/60) than with the semiautomated needle at 23% (18/60) (Fisher exact test, p value=0.028). The semi-automated needle showed slightly less fragmented samples. However, the number of fragmented samples with definitive diagnosis was slightly higher with the automated compared with the semiautomated needle, at 16% (13/80) and 13% (10/80) respectively. Compared with histology of 29 lesions that were excised, the semi-automated needle had higher sensitivity (100%) but lower specificity (75%) and accuracy (90%) compared with the automated needle (88% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 95% accuracy).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Definitive diagnosis from the study samples slightly favours the use of automated core biopsy needle as compared to semi-automated core biopsy needle.
authors.affiliation: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Jalan Yaacob Latiff, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. sridharan.radhika@gmail.com.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sridharan
authors.affiliation: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Yunos
authors.affiliation: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.affiliation: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: R I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.affiliation: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Alhabshi
authors.affiliation: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Suria Hayati
authors.affiliation: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Saladina
authors.affiliation: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Zulfiqar