Soo M S, Ghate S, Delong D
Department of Radiology, P.O. Box 3808, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Clin Imaging. 1999 Nov-Dec;23(6):347-52. doi: 10.1016/s0899-7071(00)00164-9.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the stereotactic 14-gauge, vacuum-assisted biopsy technique in diagnosing noncalcified breast lesions. Stereotactic biopsy of 116 noncalcified breast lesions was performed with either 14-gauge, vacuum-assisted technique or multipass, automated large-core technique. The number of core samples and time required for each biopsy were compared. Outcome for each technique was compared based on recommendations after the mammographic-histologic review process. Results from surgical excision and mammographic follow-up were reviewed. The vacuum-assisted technique obtained more tissue cores per lesion than the automated gun technique, showed marginal decrease in number of repeat biopsies for discordant results, and required fewer short-term follow-up mammograms, although the difference did not achieve statistical significance. The vacuum-assisted technique can be used successfully to sample noncalcified breast masses, with marginal improvement over the automated gun technique.
