STEREOTAXIC AND ULTRASOUND CORE NEEDLE BREAST BIOPSY PERFORMED BY SURGEONS

BACKGROUND: The authors evaluated outcomes and treatment costs of ster eotactic core needle biopsy (SCNB) and ultrasound core needle biopsy ( UCNB), and needle localization biopsy (NLB) in managing patients with mammographic abnormalities presenting to the surgeon. METHODS: Data fo r all patients with mammographic lesions who underwent SCNB or UCNB si nce their introduction at this institution were prospectively collecte d over 17 months. Mean inclusive costs of the three procedures were ac cumulated and compared. RESULTS: Stereotactic core needle biopsy was p erformed for 342 lesions in 319 women, for a malignancy rate of 19%; U CNB was performed for 157 lesions in 144 patients, yielding a malignan cy rate of 17%. With a mean follow-up of 13.5 months, 1 patient with i n situ carcinoma was diagnosed late. Absolute cost savings for the per iod studied was $721,963. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive breast biops y procedures can safely and reliably be performed by surgeons in clini cal practice with increased patient convenience and decreased costs. ( C) 1997 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.