STEREOTAXIC CORE NEEDLE-BIOPSY OF BREAST MICROCALCIFICATIONS - CORRELATION OF TARGET ACCURACY AND DIAGNOSIS WITH LESION SIZE

PURPOSE: To determine if lesion size or number of calcifications affec ts the ability to obtain microcalcifications or a specific histologic diagnosis at stereotaxic core needle biopsy (SCNB). MATERIALS AND METH ODS: Mammographic findings and histopathologic reports of 138 lesions in 124 patients (aged 30-87 years; mean age, 56.2 years) who underwent SCNB of calcifications were reviewed. Calcifications in the specimen and attainment of a specific diagnosis were correlated with lesion siz e and number of calcifications. RESULTS: Calcifications were obtained in 118 cases (86%). A specific diagnosis was reported in 72 cases (52% ). Differences in retrieval of calcifications or ability to establish a specific diagnosis with decreasing lesion size or decreasing number of calcifications were not statistically significant. Attainment of a specific diagnosis was significantly related to retrieval of calcifica tions (P <.005). CONCLUSION: SCNB was successful in obtaining calcific ations in a high percentage of cases regardless of lesion size or numb er of calcifications. When calcifications were retrieved, a specific d iagnosis was attained in most cases (72 of 118).