LARGE-CORE BIOPSY FOR DIAGNOSTIC AND PROGNOSTIC EVALUATION OF INVASIVE BREAST CARCINOMAS

Large core biopsy is a recently introduced method for pre-operative ev aluation of breast lumps. The aim of this study was to evaluate the us efulness of this technique in providing pre-operative diagnostic and p rognostic information that can lead to a correct line of treatment. We compared 41 cases of breast carcinomas diagnosed both by core biopsie s and surgically removed samples. A high (93%) diagnostic agreement wa s obtained. Moreover, we found a significant correlation for mitotic c ount (r = 0.76), oestrogen receptor (r = 0.78), progesterone receptor (r = 0.80), p53 (r = 0.86) and c-erbB-2 (r = 0.90) analysis between co re biopsy and definitive surgical pathology. An agreement for histolog ical grading evaluation between the two techniques was obtained in 32 out of 40 cases (k = 0.65) whereas in the other cases, a lower grade w as assigned by evaluating core biopsies. These findings suggest that p ercutaneous core breast biopsy is a valid tool for pre-operative manag ement of breast lesions, but this should be confirmed in larger, prosp ective studies. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd