Hematoma after vacuum-assisted breast biopsy: are interleukins predictors?

BACKGROUND

Hematoma is the main complication of vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB). This study aims to evaluate the associations between interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 and hematoma progression.

METHODS

This study included 36 women who underwent VABB (11G). After VABB, mammograms were obtained from these patients and the maximum diameter of the hematomas was measured. The hematoma progression / occurrence of organized hematomas was followed up for the subsequent 30 days. Venous samples were collected peripherally at 3 time points: prior, at the end, and 1 h after the end of the VABB procedure. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used for the determination of serum IL-1alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 levels.

RESULTS

2/36 hematomas were eventually organized within the follow-up period. In these cases, IL-6 had been significantly higher 1 h after the end of VABB (5.70 +/- 0.18 vs. 1.73 +/- 1.01 pg/ml; p = 0.019, Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test for independent samples). No statistically significant associations existed concerning IL-1alpha and IL-1beta. The association between the size of a hematoma on the mammogram and the subsequent organization did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated IL-6 at 1 h after the end of VABB might point to subsequent organization of the hematoma and the need for appropriate action.