STEREOTAXIC FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATIONS FOR C LINICALLY LATENT BREAST CYSTS - AN EFFICIENT AND NEAT PROCEDURE

The purpose was to evaluate the interest of stereotaxic fine-needle as piration for round opacities when the ultrasound and echoguided punctu res are inefficient; especially when women are under menopausal hormon al replacement therapy. Sixty stereotactic guided fine-needle aspirati ons detected by mammography have been performed between january 1990 a nd august 1996. The stereotaxic procedure is performed with a DMR unit (GE with Stereotix II). Stereotaxic views are done to verify needle p osition. After aspiration, cytologic examination is realised. Cystic f luid was always obtained and cytologic examination proved benign cysts in all cases. In 50 cases, cysts completely disappeared. There were 2 relapses that received after a second. This method is reliable for ev aluation of non palpable mammographically detected opacities. The use of this technique spares the patient a surgical biopsy. This procedure enables women under menopausal hormone replacement therapy to continu e the treatment.