PERCUTANEOUS LARGE-CORE BREAST BIOPSY - A MULTIINSTITUTIONAL STUDY

PURPOSE: To assess the reliability and reproducibility of automated la rge-core breast biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A consortium of 20 inst itutions reported, in a standardized fashion, their core breast biopsy data. All biopsies were performed with ''long-throw'' (2.3-cm) automa ted core biopsy devices fitted with 14-gauge needles. Needle guidance was accomplished by means of either a dedicated, stereotaxic device, i n which the patient lies in the prone position, or high-frequency elec tronically focused ultrasound equipment. RESULTS: The data in 6,152 le sions were gathered. Clinical or surgical follow-up was available in 3 ,765 lesions; 1,363 of these lesions were subsequently surgically exci sed, and the core histologic study showed cancer in 910 lesions, mamma ry intraepithelial neoplasia in 173 lesions, and benign disease in 280 lesions. In these 280 lesions, there were 15 false-negative core biop sies. CONCLUSION: The data show that percutaneous large-core breast bi opsy is a reproducible and reliable alternative to surgical biopsy.