OPEN VERSUS STEREOTAXIC BREAST BIOPSY

BACKGROUND: Stereotactic breast biopsy has been developed as a less in vasive means of performing biopsy for mammographic abnormalities. METH ODS: From July 1994 through June 1995, 103 women with mammographic abn ormalities requiring biopsy were prospectively evaluated. RESULTS: Fif ty-one women had open biopsy, and 52 women had stereotactic biopsy. Th e average age in both groups was 60 years. Pathology revealed malignan cy in 12% of stereotactic biopsies and 13% of open biopsies. Complicat ions occurred in 6% of the open biopsies and 4% of the stereotactic bi opsies and were limited to hematomas or seromas. The average cost was $2400 for open biopsy and $650 for stereotactic biopsy (P < 0.01). One hundred and one patients returned for a follow-up mammogram within 6 months, and 1 patient in each group required a second biopsy, which re vealed benign pathology. A Patient Satisfaction Survey revealed no sig nificant differences in patient satisfaction between the two types of procedures. CONCLUSION: There were no differences between open and ste reotactic biopsies in regards to diagnostic accuracy, complications, o r patient satisfaction. A significant difference was noted in charges during the time frame of our study. (C) 1996 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.