Incidence of invasive versus non-invasive carcinoma in comparing palpable and non-palpable solid breast lesions

A retrospective study was done of all patients with a suspicious mammograph ic breast lesion surgically biopsied in our institution within the last 5 y ears. Incidence of invasive versus non-invasive carcinoma and stage at pres entation (according to TNM classification system) of palpable and non-palpa ble lesions were compared. We found a significant difference of non-invasiv e carcinoma in non-palpable and palpable cancers: 42.2% versus 4.3% (p < 0, 001). Patients with a non-palpable invasive carcinoma presenting at stage I (i.e. pT1 with no axillary metastasis) rated significantly higher compared to th ose with palpable lesions 51.8% versus 9.4% (p < 0,001). The true positive biopsy rate is 30%. As low as 10% has been considered reasonable. We have a total of 56% carcinomas detected on all biopsies : 30% for non-palpable le sions and 66.8% for palpable lesions. A more aggressive approach towards screening and biopsy of breast lesions m ight increase early detection of carcinoma and so improve survival.