EVALUATION OF 14-GAUGE AND 11-GAUGE DIRECTIONAL, VACUUM-ASSISTED BIOPSY PROBES AND 14-GAUGE BIOPSY GUNS IN A BREAST PARENCHYMAL MODEL

PURPOSE: To compare commercially available 14-gauge core biopsy guns a nd 11- and 14-gauge, directional, vacuum-assisted biopsy probes for ti ssue yield and fragmentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred passe s were made through fresh turkey breasts by using each of 11 14-gauge, automated biopsy gun-needle combinations and a directional, stereotac tic, vacuum-assisted biopsy system equipped with 11- or 14-gauge probe s. Specimens were measured for total weight, individual length, diamet er, and number of fragments. RESULTS: Among the handheld devices, the Pro-Mag 2.2 gun (Manan Medical Products, Northbrook, Ill) and 14-gauge Biopty-Cut needle (Bard, Covington, Ga) had the greatest yield (17.7 mg per core specimen); this combination also produced the greatest per centage of nonfragmented cores (83%). Directional, vacuum-assisted bio psy specimens were significantly larger (P < .001): 36.8 mg per core s pecimen for the 14-gauge probe and 94.4 mg per core specimen for the 1 1-gauge probe. Specimens obtained with directional, vacuum-assisted bi opsy were more fragmented than those obtained with spring-actuated,two -stage,long-throw, automated biopsy systems. CONCLUSION: Statistically significant differences with various biopsy devices are seen in the b reast tissue yield and in fragmentation.