Mammographic abnormalities caused by percutaneous stereotactic biopsy of histologically benign lesions evident on follow-up mammograms

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of our study was to evaluate how often a mammographi c abnormality thought to be produced by the biopsy procedure was evident on the initial follow-up mammogram after percutaneous biopsy of impalpable hi stologically benign lesions. We compared three stereotactic percutaneous bi opsy methods. CONCLUSION. A mammographic density seen well only in the projection paralle l to the biopsy needle tract was evident in 2% (5/226) of the lesions for w hich 11-gauge directional vacuum-assisted biopsy was used, 0% (0/96) of the lesions for which 14-gauge directional vacuum-assisted biopsy was used, an d 0% (0/422) of the lesions for which 14-gauge automated large-core biopsy was used. No mammographic abnormalities assessed as BI-RADS categories 3, 4 , or 5 (according to the American College of Radiology's Breast Imaging Rep orting and Data System) and thought to be produced by the biopsy procedure were evident after any of the biopsy methods.