MINIMALLY INVASIVE STEREOTAXIC VACUUM CORE BREAST BIOPSY

The purpose of our study was the assessment of the diagnostic value of vacuum core biopsy, which promises high accuracy by minimally invasiv e percutaneous excision of 1-2 cm(3) of tissue. The materials used wer e a digital stereotaxic biopsy table (Fischer Imaging) and a Mammotome -gun (Biopsys). A total of 236 patients with 261 predominantly indeter minate lesions (indeterminate: 230; suspicious: 26; malignant: 5) unde rwent vacuum core biopsy (VCB). Verification was as follows: (a) demon stration of complete or partial removal of the lesion or replacement o f the lesion by a small hematoma by comparison the pre-and post-VCB ma mmogram; (b) reexcision of 45 malignant and 6 borderline lesions; (c) radiologic-histologic correlation; and (d) 6-month-follow-up mammogram s in 129 cases. Two VCBs were not possible because very fine microcalc ifications could not be visualized. Two puncture errors occurred which , however, were immediately recognized and VCB was repeated. Based on the above verification a 100 % accuracy was achieved. No relevant side effects occurred. Except for 2 cases mammographically hardly any scar ring was visible. Based on the excellent accuracy and excellent tolera nce of the procedure VCB appears to be the future method of choice for the workup of those indeterminate mammographically detected lesions t hat up to now have still required surgical biopsy.