LONG-TERM IMPACT OF PREVIOUS BREAST BIOPSY ON BREAST-CANCER SCREENINGMODALITIES

Approximately 80% of breast biopsies are performed for what proves to be a benign process. The patients who undergo these procedures should continue screening with breast physical examination and mammography. T he long-term impact of breast biopsy on these screening modalities has not been well studied. We performed a prospective, follow-up evaluati on in 63 patients who underwent needle localization biopsy with benign histology at our institution between 6 and 7 years ago. This evaluati on consisted of a directed history, breast physical examination, and f ollow-up mammogram. Two patients (3%) had undergone mastectomy for an interval breast cancer; 17 others (28%) had undergone subsequent biops ies. No patient had changes on physical examination of the biopsy site . All mammograms were evaluated as normal or as having benign abnormal ities. Excisional breast biopsy does not generally produce long-term c hanges affecting the interpretation of breast physical examination or mammography. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.