Pre-operative simultaneous stereotactic core biopsy and fine-needle aspiration biopsy in the diagnosis of invasive lobular breast carcinoma

Purpose: To determine the diagnostic value of stereotactic core needle biop sy (SCNB) in comparison to stereotactic fine-needle aspiration biopsy (SFNA B) in patients with invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). Material and Methods: Twenty-two patients with clinical or mammographic fin dings suspicious of malignancy underwent surgery where postoperative histop athology showed ILC. Pre-operative attempts of diagnosis were made using SF NAB and SCNB. SFNAB was done with a spinal needle 0.7- or 0.9-mm and SCNB w as simultaneously performed with an automated 2.1-mm biopsy gun in all pati ents. Results: SFNAB was diagnostic of carcinoma in 9 women, showed "probable car cinoma" in 5 and "atypia" in 3. In the remaining 5 women, SFNAB showed no a typia. SCNB diagnosed ILC in 20 patients and showed ILC as well as invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) in I. Ductal carcinoma in situ was suggested in the remaining patient. Conclusion: SCNB was superior to SFNAB in diagnosing ILC and did not miss a ny carcinoma, whereas SFNAB was non-diagnostic in 8 cases. SCNB is thus rec ommended in patients with suspicion of ILC of the breast.