The role of US guided handheld vacuum assisted breast core biopsy (VACB) in the surgical management of breast nodules: preliminary report of KCCC experience.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of US guided hand held vacuum-assisted breast core biopsy (VACB) in the surgical management of breast nodules.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty five breast nodules in twenty five women were subjected to US guided 11-gauge vacuum-assisted breast core biopsy over a period 22 months. Biopsies were performed using handheld 11-g VACB needle under US guidance using high-resolution US equipment with a 7.5-10 MHz linear transducer. A median of 12 specimens were obtained per lesion with insertion of a clip marker in place. Pre and post procedure imaging findings, complications, histologic outcome, and medical records were reviewed.

RESULTS

The patient median age was 50.16 years (range, 36- 72 years). Lesion median size was 1.7 cm (range 0.8-3.0 cm). Lesions were categorized using BI-RAD system as follow: 12 (48%) category 3, 11 (44%) category 4 and 2 (8%) as category 5. Six out of 25 (24%) lesions were palpable. The median time required to perform the biopsy was 25 min (range, 20-40 min). Complete removal of the lesion seen at sonography was achieved in 22/25 lesions (88%) and was significantly more frequent in lesions measuring < 1.5 cm than in larger lesions. Accuracy was 100 %. No repeat was asked. Surgical biopsy was spared in 24/25 (96%) patients. One case was referred for surgical excision upon pathologist advice.

CONCLUSION

In our small series, US guided vacuum-assisted beast core biopsy was a fast, less invasive, accurate method in diagnosing breast nodules. It is a cost effective procedure, accepted by the patient and led to sparing surgical procedure in 96 % of women. VACB has become an integral part in the management of breast nodules and further work is going on to assess the long-term outcome.