[Value of 14-gauge ultrasound-guided large-core needle biopsy of breast lesions: own results in comparison with the literature].

PURPOSE

To report the false-negative rate, sensitivity, and specificity of 14-gauge ultrasound-guided large-core needle biopsy (14-G USSB) performed on breast lesions at our institution and, furthermore, to compare and discuss our own results with those reported in the literature.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study includes 399 lesions examined by 14-G USSB. The results of the 14-G USSB were compared with the results of the surgical biopsy or, in cases of benign histology, were followed clinically. A key word search in two medical databases was undertaken to compare our data with those reported in the literature. The search was limited to the period from January 1990 to February 2002 and only original investigations published in English and German were included in our comparison.

RESULTS

At our institution, 238 (59.6 %) benign and 161 (40.4 %) malignant lesions were diagnosed by 14-G USSB. The 14-G USSB was false-negative in 5 (1.25 %) of 399 cases. It has a sensitivity of 95.7 %, and specificity 100%. The literature reports false-negative rates between 0 % and 1.26 %, sensitivities between 86% and 100%, and specificities between 99.7 % and 100 %. On the basis of 3880 results from seven selected original papers and our own study, the false-negative rate for 14-G USSB was calculated to be 0.4 % (16 of 3880).

CONCLUSION

Based on our results and those reported in the literature, 14-G USSB can be considered safe and reliable in the assessment of breast lesions.