Core needle biopsy (CNB) as a diagnostic method for breast lesions: Comparison with fine needle aspiration cytology (FNA)

In Japan, fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNA) of the breast has long been recognized as a useful diagnostic tool, and has been used in many institutions because it provides a rapid, accurate and cost-effective evaluation. However, the use of core needle biopsy (CNB) is increasing, and vacuum assisted biopsy devices have been developed to produce larger specimens for analysis. CNB is useful because the frequency of inadequate specimens is lower than in FNA, and it requires a less invasive procedure than open biopsy. CNB is also more widely used, compared to FNA, because it can provide a more definitive diagnosis of borderline lesions and can be used to distinguish between IDC and ILC. Therefore, the use of CNB with mammographic or ultrasonographic guidance is especially high for non-palpable tumors. FNA is a rapid and non-invasive procedure that is useful for mass lesions. The accuracy of FNA for non-palpable lesions is relatively low, and depends upon the skill of the aspirators, cytoscreeners and cytopathologists involved in the procedure. However, FNA for palpable masses, coupled with a physical and mammographic examination (the so-called triple test) is highly accurate for diagnosis of breast cancer when all three modalities indicate malignancy, and for a benign lesion when all three are negative.     

超声引导下空芯针穿刺小于1 cm的乳腺病变病理组织学诊断的效果评价

目的 探讨临床上不可触及且＜1 cm的乳腺病变经超声引导下空芯针穿刺活检（CNB）诊断的准确性。方法 回顾性分析2010年1月至2015年7月行CNB及手术切除的连续124例女性患者的临床病理资料。结果 CNB诊断乳腺癌29例,良性病变95例,其中29例乳腺癌和84例良性病变患者与手术病理的诊断一致,符合率为91.1％（113/124）,一致性检验的Kappa值为0.781（P＜0.001）。在CNB诊断为良性病变而手术确诊为乳腺癌的11例患者中,10例为组织学低估,1例为假阴性。结论 对于＜1 cm的乳腺病变进行超声引导下CNB诊断是简单且准确的方法。     

Present state of and problems with core needle biopsy for non-palpable breast lesions

The widespread use of screening mammography has resulted in increased detection of nonpalpable breast lesions here in Japan. For the histopathologic work-up of these lesions, stereotactic core biopsy is essential as a minimally invasive diagnostic procedure. However, the number of facilities that provide this procedure cannot keep up with the increasing demand from patients.Another issue is interpreting the results of the biopsy. With a histological diagnosis using needle samples, there is always a risk of underestimation or a false-negative result. To avoid missing cancers after stereotactic biopsy, it is important to check for sampling errors and for discrepancies between the radiologic and pathologic findings.We are pushing for the rapid spread of an ideal form of stereotactic breast core biopsy (using prone-type units, digital methods, and vacuum-assisted breast biopsy devices) throughout Japan so that every patient can undergo this examination.     

Follow-up of benign screen-detected breast lesions with suspicious preoperative needle biopsies

Aim

To study the outcome of patients with screen-detected breast lesions in whom preoperative core biopsy (CB), or fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), or both were suspicious of malignancy or malignant, but the final histology of the excised lesion was benign.

Materials and methods

Thirty-nine patients who fulfilled the above criteria were identified from a prospectively entered database of 192,153 breast screening examinations at the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Breast Screening Unit. Thirty-four patients had suspicious or malignant preoperative FNAC and/or CB, and five had FNAC only. Follow-up was mainly by mammograms. Outcome data were collected from hospital case notes and radiology reports.

Results

The median follow-up period was 3 years following excision biopsy. One patient whose excision biopsy histology was atypical ductal hyperplasia developed a mammographically occult carcinoma in the same breast after 24 months. There were no other cancers reported during this time.

Conclusion

The problem of suspicious preoperative needle biopsies with benign excision biopsy is uncommon in the breast screening population. These patients are not at an increased risk of being diagnosed with a carcinoma in the subsequent 3 years and may be discharged back to standard breast screening.     

Preoperative cytological and histological diagnosis of breast lesions: A critical review

Background

Non-operative pathology diagnoses constitute an essential part of the work-up of breast lesions. With fine needle aspiration (FNA) and core needle biopsy (CNB) both having unique advantages, there is an increasing acceptance of CNB. This paper aims to outline the scientific basis of this trend. Additionally, we provide an update on novel techniques that derive cytological specimens from CNB (i.e., touch imprint (TI) and core wash (CW) cytology) in an attempt to get the best of both worlds.

Methods

In addition to using the authors' experience, we performed a search of the Medline database combining the search terms “breast cancer diagnosis”, “core needle biopsy”, “fine needle aspiration”, “touch imprint cytology”, “core wash cytology” and “complications”. We defined a conclusive non-operative diagnosis as “malignant” in lesions that were malignant on follow-up and “benign” in lesions that were benign on follow-up.

Results

CNB was more often conclusive than FNA in benign and malignant lesions in 4 prospective studies. Although the more rapid diagnoses by FNA result in less patient anxiety during diagnostic work-up, CNB allows for fairly reliable estimation of invasion, histological type, grade, and receptor expression. CW and TI cytology seem promising techniques with conclusiveness rates that are roughly comparable to that of FNA.

Conclusions

All new suspicious breast lesions require careful non-operative investigation by CNB. However, additional cytological assessment by FNA can still be useful as a same-day diagnosis decreases patient anxiety and facilitates surgical treatment planning. TI and CW cytology techniques are promising same-day diagnosis modalities.     

Core wash cytology of breast lesions by ultrasonographically guided core needle biopsy

Previous studies demonstrated that core wash cytology by stereotactic needle biopsy was useful for the immediate diagnosis of breast lesions. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of core wash cytology of breast lesions by ultrasonographically (US) guided core needle biopsy (CNB). US-guided 18-gauge CNB was performed in a series of 458 cases. Each CNB sample was washed in saline solution. Core wash cytology of the washed core material was performed on material obtained by saline solution lavage of the fragments using a cytocentrifuge. The cytological diagnoses were divided into five categories: benign, atypical/indeterminate, suspicious/probably malignant, malignant, and unsatisfactory, which then were compared with the CNB results. The cytological diagnoses of the 458 cases were as follows: 106 lesions (23.1%) were benign, 28 lesions (6.1%) were atypical/indeterminate, 42 lesions (9.2%) were suspicious/probably malignant, 88 lesions (19.2%) were malignant, and 194 lesions (42.4%) were unsatisfactory. The core wash cytology had a sensitivity of 89% (141 of 158), and a specificity of 72% (76 of 106). The CNB showed 143 of 194 unsatisfactory samples (74%) to be benign, three to be high-risk, and 48 (25%) to be malignant. Unsatisfactory samples were obtained from significantly more benign than malignant lesions. In conclusion, the high rate of insufficient samples for core wash cytology of breast lesions by US-guided CNB makes its use impractical in this setting. This technique is not useful for immediate diagnosis of breast lesions by US-guided CNB.     

Screen-detected breast lesions with an indeterminate (B3) core needle biopsy should be excised

Background

Screen-detected breast lesions in the National Health Service Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP) are assessed by core needle biopsy (CB) or fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Most core biopsies are diagnostic and representative, but a small proportion is indeterminate (coded “B3” in the NHSBSP). We studied the surgical outcome of screen-detected breast lesions with indeterminate (B3) CB.

Methods

We retrieved and analysed the data on women who were recalled for assessment of a screen-detected abnormality in whom the initial CB was reported as B3 over a six-year period from a prospectively collected database in one breast screening centre. The main outcome measure was final histology following surgical excision.

Results

Among 4080 CB performed, 220 (5.4%) were B3. Mammographically 127 lesions were microcalcifications and 88 were soft tissue lesions. On surgical excision (n = 199, 90%), 67 (34%) were malignant. In patients with malignancy, clinical examination, US and concurrent FNAC were either suspicious or definitive of malignancy only in 2%, 4% and 7%, respectively.

Conclusion

A third of screen-detected breast lesions with indeterminate CB are malignant on excision. Clinical examination, US, and FNAC may identify some of these carcinomas pre-operatively but most malignancies would not be picked up. Thus, these lesions should undergo surgical excision.     

超声引导下经皮空心针穿刺组织病理学检查对乳腺病灶的诊断效果评价

目的 探讨超声引导下经皮空心针穿刺(CNB)组织病理学检查诊断乳腺病灶的临床价值.方法 回顾性分析177例乳腺病灶的超声引导下CNB病理学检查结果 ,并与术后组织病理学诊断结果 进行比较,评价CNB诊断的效果.结果 177例乳腺病灶组织中,CNB病理诊断乳腺痛129例,术后病理组织学诊断乳腺癌136例,CNB病理诊断假阴性7例.CNB病理诊断乳腺癌的灵敏度为94.9%,特异度为100%,准确率为96.0%,阳性预测值为100%,阴性预测值为85.4%,约登指数为0.949,Kappa值为0.895(P<0.01).结论 CNB组织病理诊断乳腺病灶具有较高的准确性,与术后病理组织学诊断结果 一致性较高,是一种可靠的乳腺病灶活检方法 .     

彩超引导下空芯针穿刺在乳腺肿块诊断中的意义

目的:评价彩超引导下空芯针穿刺活检（US-CNB）在乳腺肿块诊断中的临床意义。方法:回顾性分析宿州市立医院肿瘤外科2011年1月至2014年6月行空芯针穿刺活检病人120例,对空芯针穿刺活检和切除活检标本的病理组织学诊断进行比较和分析。结果:120例乳腺疾病病人经空芯针穿刺活检组织学诊断乳腺癌为90例,7例假阴性,假阴性率为5.8%。US-CNB 与切除活检的病理诊断符合率为94.2%,无显著性差异（P＞0.05）,空芯针穿刺结果与肿瘤性质、部位、患者年龄、钙化等因素,无显著性差异（P＞0.05）,与肿瘤大小有显著性差异（P＜0.05）。结论:彩超引导下空芯针穿刺活检是一种敏感性高、特异性强、安全性较高的乳腺病变诊断方法。     

Papillary breast lesions diagnosed by core biopsy require complete excision

Background

Surgical excision of papillary breast lesions with atypia diagnosed using core needle biopsy (CNB) has been accepted; however, the management of benign papillary lesions (without atypia) has been controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcome of nonmalignant papillary lesions diagnosed by ultrasound-guided 14-gauge CNB, and to establish clear guidelines on management of these lesions.

Methods

We retrospectively identified 268 nonmalignant papillary breast lesions, including 203 benign lesions and 65 atypical lesions, diagnosed by CNB and subsequently surgically excised in 250 women at our institution between July 2004 and October 2010. For each lesion, medical records and radiologic and pathologic reports were reviewed and coded. We compared the histological upgrade among the collected variables.

Results

On histological examination after surgical excision, 15.4% atypical papillary lesions and 5.9% benign lesions were upgraded to malignant, and 20.2% benign lesions were upgraded to atypical. Atypia (P = 0.015) was significantly associated with malignant upgrade at excision. No clinical or radiologic variable was helpful in predicting the possibility of histological upgrade of CNB-diagnosed nonmalignant papillary lesions.

Conclusions

Nonmalignant papillary lesions diagnosed with CNB showed an unacceptable pathological upgrade rate after excision. Therefore, surgical excision should be performed for all papillary lesions of the breast for definitive diagnosis.     

乳腺癌细针穿刺活检的临床应用价值

背景与目的：随着乳腺癌术前诊疗手段的发展,细针穿刺似乎不再受临床医生的青睐。细针穿刺作为乳腺癌的术前诊断方法之一,其安全及有效性存在争议。本研究探讨30年来我院乳腺癌细针穿刺与复发、转移的关系。方法：统计我院1975—2006年1 260例乳腺癌患者的临床资料,根据是否术前细针穿刺分组,比较2组间临床基本特点、复发转移率、无瘤生存率。结果：细针穿刺阳性率为61.4%,其中Ⅳ期患者阳性率最高,达100%;细针穿刺组中以Ⅱ期和Ⅲ期患者居多,均为45.2%;细针穿刺组和非细针穿刺组的局部复发率(7.0% vs 6.4%)、复发转移率(13.2% vs 14.0%)、5年无瘤生存率(82.0% vs 81.0%)及10年无瘤生存率(51.0%vs 64.0%)差异均无统计学意义。结论：细针穿刺具有易操作、阳性率高、对复发及生存无影响等优点,因此对乳腺癌患者的术前诊断仍有较高的临床应用价值。     

乳腺癌细针穿刺的细胞形态学观察

目的 总结乳腺癌细针穿刺的细胞形态学特点及鉴别诊断.方法 观察175例乳腺癌细针穿刺的细胞学涂片与76例乳腺增生症、93例乳腺纤维腺瘤对照分析;同时观察20例细胞学漏诊和低诊乳腺癌细胞学涂片与13例细胞学过诊病例对照分析.结果 175例乳腺癌:细胞排列杂乱无极性96.6%(169/175),核间疏松排列71.4%(12...     

Evaluation and indications of ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted core needle breast biopsy

BACKGROUND: The Mammotome is a diagnostic tool used under stereotactic or with ultrasound guidance. A clear indication for Mammotome use under stereotactic guidance is when a non-palpable microcalcification is a target. However, the indications for the use of the Mammotome under ultrasound guidance vary among institutions, and it is difficult to find a place for the Mammotome among conventional biopsy techniques. The Mammotome biopsy has been available in our hospital since July 1999. We assessed the effectiveness and indications of ultrasound-guided Mammotome biopsy. METHODS: We performed Mammotome biopsies in 433 cases requiring histological diagnosis from July 1999 to September 2006, using an 11-gauge articulated arm-type Mammotome under ultrasound guidance. There were 377 mass lesions including 83 non-palpable cases and 56 hypoechoic lesions. RESULTS: The indications for Mammotome biopsy were 162 cases with inconsistent fine needle aspiration (FNA) and imaging findings, 114 cases indeterminate by FNA, 68 cases of an identified pathological type before neoadjuvant chemotherapy and confirmation of hormone receptor status, 36 inadequate cases by FNA, 20 cases of confirmation of fibroadenoma and other benign tumors, 8 removal cases of fibroadenoma, 8 microcalcification cases, and 17 others. The target lesion was obtained in 99.5% of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided Mammotome biopsy is an accurate and useful diagnostic method that enables sufficient amounts of tissue to be obtained with minimal invasion and few complications. The Mammotome is the first choice for obtaining a definitive pathological diagnosis in breast lesions.     

The management of papillary lesion of the breast by core needle biopsy

Background

The purpose of this study was to determine the accuracy of core needle biopsy (CNB) diagnoses of papillary breast lesions, and to identify the risk factors and histologic features, compared with excisional biopsy (EB).

Method

We retrospectively reviewed 1682 sonographically guided core needle biopsies performed at one single medical center from January 2001 through December 2005, and identified 41 papillary lesions. Surgical correlation was available for 35 cases, 2 cases were loss follow-up and 4 cases diagnosed as papilloma by core needle biopsy were followed up with imaging for at least 24 months.

Results

The pathologic diagnoses for the 35 papillary lesions obtained at core biopsy were benign in 24 cases, atypical in 7, and malignant in 4. Of those diagnosed as benign lesions at CNB, 7/24 turned out to be malignant. In the hyperplasia group, 5/7 were malignant. The total upgrade rate was 39%. The positive predict value was 100% and negative predict value was 61%.

Conclusion

All papillary lesions of the breast diagnosed by CNB should be excised because a substantial number of lesions were upgraded of diagnoses at excision.     

Accurate diagnosis of musculoskeletal lesions by core needle biopsy

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous needle biopsy has many advantages over open biopsy in the treatment of neoplasms. However, the accuracy of needle biopsy in the diagnosis of musculoskeletal lesions has not yet been established. Here, we evaluate the accuracy and limitations of the procedure for musculoskeletal lesions. METHODS: The diagnoses of 163 needle biopsies (bone, 91; soft tissue, 72) performed on 157 consecutive patients using a Jamshidi needle or an Ostycut needle for bone lesions, or a Tru-cut needle for soft tissue lesions were compared with the final diagnoses made by open biopsy and/or a definitive operation. RESULTS: One hundred forty-three specimens (88%) were determined to be adequate for histological examination. Obtaining undamaged cores from very hard bony lesions or sclerotic cyst walls proved difficult. A pathologist with experience in musculoskeletal lesions was able to differentiate malignant tumors from benign lesions in 97% of the cases (bone, 100%; soft tissue, 94%) and arrive at a specific diagnosis in 88% (bone, 96%; soft tissue, 78%) when adequate cores were obtained. Differentiating a well-differentiated liposarcoma from a benign lipoma and inflammatory lesions from benign tumorous conditions, was difficult. The overall accuracy was 77% (bone, 85%; soft tissue, 68%). There was no morbidity related to the procedure. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that needle biopsy is safe and accurate for diagnosing musculoskeletal lesions.     

临床未扪及肿块的乳腺病灶穿刺活检现状

对于影像学诊断发现的临床摸不到块的乳腺病灶 ,可以采用B超或者X线立体定位下进行活检。细针吸取细胞学检查 (FNA)和空心针穿刺活检 (CNB)是目前最常用的两种穿刺活检诊断方法。对于乳腺X线异常的病灶 ,X线立体定位穿刺活检不仅诊断敏感性高 ,而且可以使大量良性病变免于不必要的手术 ;另外它还有助于手术方案的制定。由于存在组织学低估以及漏检等情况 ,穿刺活检尚不能完全取代手术活检。因此 ,必须合理地选择穿刺对象及掌握再次活检的指征     

Fine‐needle aspiration and core needle biopsy: An update on 2 common minimally invasive tissue sampling modalities

Fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) and core needle biopsy (CNB) represent 2 of the most common minimally invasive tissue sampling modalities. Although similar in many ways, there are significant differences in the collection, processing, interpretation, and suitability for ancillary testing that exist between FNA and CNB. This review provides a brief overview of the strengths and weaknesses of FNA compared with CNB, as well as an update regarding the landscape of recently published studies that investigate the organ‐specific comparative performance metrics of FNA and CNB. A current understanding of the benefits and limitations of FNA and CNB will help the cytopathologist and the clinician alike to select the right procedure for the right patient at the right time. Cancer Cytopathol 2016;124:862–870 . © 2016 American Cancer Society.     

Comparison of the diagnostic performances of core needle biopsy in myxoid versus non-myxoid tumors

BackgroundDespite the overall diagnostic utility of core needle biopsy (CNB) comparable to incisional biopsy, increased diagnostic errors have been suggested of CNB for myxoid soft tissue tumors. This study compared the diagnostic performance of CNB between myxoid and non-myxoid soft tissue tumors.Methods369 patients who underwent ultrasound-guided CNB prior to resection for soft tissue tumors were classified into two groups according to resection pathology; myxoid group (n = 75) and non-myxoid group (n = 294). One-hundred and ninety-three patients were male and the median age of the patients was 40 years. Two-hundred and sixty-three tumors were malignant.ResultsCNB correctly diagnosed malignancy in 84% (58 of 69) for the myxoid group and 95% (184 of 194) for the non-myxoid group. For diagnosing histologic grade of soft tissue sarcoma, CNB correctly identified high grade in 78% (18 of 23) for the myxoid group and 74% (94 of 128) for the non-myxoid group. Correct diagnosis rate of histological type was significantly lower in the myxoid group (63% [47 of 75] in the myxoid group and 83% [242 of 294] in the non-myxoid group, p = 0.013).ConclusionOur study suggests that CNB is useful for myxoid soft tissue tumors of the extremity, with regard to diagnosing malignancy and histologic grade. However, CNB was less useful for identifying histologic subtype in myxoid tumors than in non-myxoid tumors.     

Diagnostic performance of stereotactic large core needle biopsy for nonpalpable breast lesions in routine clinical practice

The COBRA (COre Biopsy after RAdiological localization) study showed that in a controlled study setting, stereotactic large core needle biopsy (LCNB) is as reliable for diagnosing nonpalpable breast lesions as open surgical biopsy. In the present study, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of stereotactic LCNB in routine clinical practice. Between February 2000 and June 2002, data on all patients (n = 955) with nonpalpable breast lesions referred for LCNB were collected. High risk underestimate rate, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) underestimate rate and sensitivity rate after 2 years were calculated. The usefulness of the COBRA guidelines in clinical practice was determined. Nine hundred five successful biopsies were performed in 874 patients. Of the high-risk lesions, 27% were found to be carcinomas on open biopsy, which is comparable to the results of the COBRA study (23%). The DCIS underestimate rate (28%) was higher than found in the COBRA study (17%). No carcinomas were missed after a follow-up period of 2 years. Ninety-six percent of patients were treated according to the COBRA guidelines. The diagnostic performance of stereotactic LCNB in patients with nonpalpable breast lesions seems to be comparable in a controlled study setting and routine clinical practice.     

影响骨科病变芯针活检诊断率的因素分析

目的 分析影响骨科病变芯针活检诊断率的因素,以期对临床工作提供指导.方法 2008年7月至2009年12月,我院骨软科芯针活检97例患者,分析病变大小、病变类型、病理诊断类型等病变相关因素及芯针内径、影像引导方式等穿刺技术相关因素对诊断率的影响,所得数据采用Cochran-Armitage趋势检验及χ2检验进行统计学分析.结果 病变最大径与诊断率之间存在显著线性趋势(Z=2.83,P=0.006);溶骨性病变的诊断率显著高于成骨性病变(χ2=6.05,P=0.014);恶性病变的诊断率显著高于良性病变(χ2=11.33,P=0.001).软组织病变与骨组织病变的诊断率无显著差异(χ2=0.19,P=0.066).芯针内径与诊断率间无显著线性趋势(Z=1.27,P=0.27);不同影像引导方式(X线、CT、B超)下的诊断率间亦无显著差异(χ2=1.67,P=0.43).结论 病变大小、良性/恶性、成骨性/溶骨性病变是影响芯针活检诊断率的3个主要因素.