Minimally invasive stereotactic breast biopsy with the "mammotome". Methodand own experience

A new method of minimally invasive breast biopsy is described. The system c omponents are a stereotactic biopsy table, a digital mammography, an automa tic, computer-assisted needle positioning device and a new vacuum core biop sy needle. With this needle multiple core biopsies can be collected through a single insertion. The procedure was performed as outpatient status and w as very well tolerated by the patients. Our experiences with this method ar e very promising. The method will reduce the relation of benign to malignan t histology in open biopsies.