ACCURACY OF CORE NEEDLE-BIOPSY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF PALPABLE BREAST MASSES - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY ON 150 CONSECUTIVE PATIENTS

To reduce the need for excisional biopsies in the diagnosis of breast masses, the accuracy of core needle biopsy (CNB) was determined in a u niversity hospital setting. 150 consecutive women with solitary palpab le breast masses underwent CNB over a 2-year period. Histological diag nosis was established, and in the case of cancer the type, grade and e strogen and progesterone receptors were determined. CNB findings were compared with those independently obtained from the subsequently excis ed lesions. There were 103 malignant and 47 benign lesions. CNB diagno sed 136 lesions (90.7 %) correctly. Fourteen biopsies were inconclusiv e. Histological type was correct in all cases and grading in 83.5 %. C orrect hormone receptor status was obtained in 97.1 % of cases for est rogen and 91.3 % for progesterone. Diagnosis of histological type, gra ding, and hormone receptors obtained from CNB material is a safe way t o analyze palpable breast lesions and therefore a useful tool to selec t patients for preoperative treatment.