Management of Nonpalpable Breast Lesions in a Modern Functional Breast Unit

Summary During the last 20 years an ever increasing number of nonpalpable breast lesions (NPBL) have been identified. A cytohistological definition is required to establish the correct diagnostic classification of these lesions and the suitable therapy to be used. The Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC), the Advanced Breast Biopsy Instrumentation (ABBI) system or the Vacuum Assisted Core Biopsy (VACB) represent valid alternatives to the surgical excision with needle localisation. 591 NPBL have been included in the present study. The suspected grade of each lesion was then assigned according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) of the American College of Radiology. All the BI-RADS 4 and 5, and all the BI-RADS 3 lesions, which after 6-month follow-up showed altered morphology, were sampled for cytological and/or histological examinations by FNAC, VACB or biopsy by ABBI system. The diagnostic algorithm used in this study obviated a surgical procedure in 574 women (97.1%), yielding a 73.9% decrease in the cost of diagnosis compared with surgical biopsy, and a 48.1% decrease in cost if all lesions had been histologically tested using ABBI or VACB procedure. Compared to surgical biopsy, VACB and ABBI system are less expensive, and have smaller emotional and aesthetical impact on patients; however they retain the same sensitivity and specificity.     

乳腺X线立体穿刺钢丝定位术及活检

目的;乳腺Ｘ线立体穿刺钢丝定位术,是对临床触不到,而Ｘ线片显示的乳腺微小病变,通过Ｘ线立体穿刺,经钢丝定位后指导外科切检,进行组织病理学检查的一种新的乳腺检查方法。方法;在Ｘ线片观察分析的基础上,由电子计算机辅助立体定位仪指导完成。结果;本方法技术先进,定位准确,操作简单,检查结果真实,可靠。     

The Significance of Minimally Invasive Core Needle Biopsy and Immunohistochemistry Analysis in 235 Cases with Breast Lesions

OBJECTIVE To evaluate core needle biopsy (CNB) as a mini-mally invasive method to examine breast lesions and discuss the clinical significance of subsequent immunohistochemistry (IHC)analysis.METHODS The clinical data and pathological results of 235 pa-tients with breast lesions, who Received CNB before surgery, were analyzed and compared. Based on the results of CNB done before surgery, 87 out of 204 patients diagnosed as invasive carcinoma were subjected to immunodetection for p53, c-erbB-2, ER and PR.The morphological change of cancer tissues in response to chemo-therapy was also evaluated.RESULTS In total of 235 cases receiving CNB examination, 204 were diagnosed as invasive carcinoma, reaching a 100% consistent rate with the surgical diagnosis. Sixty percent of the cases diag-nosed as non-invasive carcinoma by CNB was identified to have the presence of invading elements in surgical specimens, and simi-larly, 50% of the cases diagnosed as atypical ductal hyperplasia by CNB was confirmed to be carcinoma by the subsequent result of excision biopsy. There was no significant difference between the CNB biopsy and regular surgical samples in positive rate of im-munohistochemistry analysis (p53, c-erbB-2, ER and PR; P > 0.05).However, there was significant difference in the expression rate of p53 and c-erbB-2 between the cases with and without morphologi-cal change in response to chemotherapy (P < 0.05). In most cases with p53 and c-erbB-2 positive, there was no obvious morphologi-cal change after chemotherapy. CONCLUSION CNB is a cost-effective diagnostic method with minimal invasion for breast lesions, although it still has some limi-tations. Immunodetection on CNB tissue is expected to have great significance in clinical applications.     

Lateral Decubitus Positioning Stereotactic Vacuum-Assisted Breast Biopsy with True Lateral Mammography

Stereotactic vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VAB) has been used to evaluate microcalcifications or non-palpable breast lesions on mammography. Although stereotactic VAB is usually performed in a prone or upright position, an expensive prone table is necessary and vasovagal reactions often occur during the procedure. For these reasons, the lateral decubitus position can be applied for stereotactic VAB, and true lateral mammography can be used to detect the lesion. We report on 15 cases of lateral decubitus positioning for stereotactic VAB with true lateral mammography for non-palpable breast lesions or microcalcifications. The mean procedure time was approximately 30.1 minutes, and no complications occurred during the procedures. Fourteen cases had benign breast lesions and one case had a ductal carcinoma in situ. The lateral decubitus stereotactic VAB with true lateral mammography can be applied for microcalcifications or non-palpable breast lesions and helps to minimize anxiety and vasovagal reactions in patients.     

When can stereotactic core biopsy replace excisional biopsy? — A clinical perspective

Summary Stereotactic core biopsy is becoming increasingly popular as a technique which provides a histologic diagnosis for mammographic abnormalities while avoiding the trauma, deformity, and much of the cost associated with surgical biopsy. This review evaluates the published literature on the diagnostic accuracy of core biopsy for ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive breast cancer and the ability of core biopsy to characterize malignant lesions sufficiently to allow treatment planning. Issues of cost effectiveness are examined in the context of the degree of suspicion of the mammographic abnormality being sampled by core technique as well as subsequent breast cancer therapy.Presented in part at the 17th Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.     

Stereotactic large-gauge core biopsy: Its role in the diagnosis of non-palpable mammographic abnormalities presenting to a screening service

A retrospective study of large-gauge core biopsy (LGCB) of 206 non-palpable mammographic abnormalities detected at routine screening in a community-based clinic accredited with the Australian National Program for the Early Detection of Breast Cancer, was performed to ascertain the role of LGCB as an alternative to diagnostic surgical biopsy within such a programme. Of the 51 malignancies diagnosed by LGCB and proceeding to treatment, no false-positives were found and agreement as to the presence, or otherwise, of invasion between core and open biopsy was 95%. Once malignancy was established by LGCB, one-stage treatment was possible in 74.5% of cases. A total of 114 lesions were considered to be benign and returned to routine screening. One interval cancer subsequently developed in this group. Incongruity between the pathological diagnosis from core biopsy and the mammographic image occurred in 29 cases, repesenting potential mistargeting in 14.1 % of cases. Four cancers were discovered in this group when the patients subsequently proceeded to surgical biopsy, making an overall false-negative rate of 2.4%. No core biopsy sample was considered inadequate for pathological assessment and no lesion proved inaccessible to targeting. There was no long-term morbidity. We believe that LGCB is a safe, reliable and cheaper alternative to diagnostic surgical biopsy, but a close correlation of pathology and mammography is required to avoid the erroneous return of women to routine recall.     

X线立体定位活检在触诊阴性的乳腺微小病灶中的应用

目的 探讨乳腺X线及立体定位活检在临床触诊阴性的乳腺内微小病灶的应用价值.方法 回顾性分析81例临床触诊阴性而乳腺摄片发现微小病变并进行立体定位穿刺活检患者的病例资料.结果 81例中乳腺良性病变58例(71.6%),恶性病变23例(28.4%).结论 临床触诊阴性的乳腺微小病变应积极活检,乳腺X线及立体定位活检术是提高早期乳腺癌检出率的有效方法并能指导治疗和选择最佳的手术方式.     

超声引导下粗针活检术诊断不可触及乳腺病变的研究

目的：评价超声引导下粗针活检术（US－CNB）对不可触及的乳腺病变（NPBL）的诊断意义。方法：对138例女性患者的162处NPBL进行US－CNB和切除活检,以切除活检病理结果为诊断标准。结果：NPBL大小为3－24mm(平均11．1mm）。在US－CNB标本中,142处为良性,3处为可疑恶性,14处为恶性,3处取材不当,在手术切除标本中,18处为恶性,144处为良性。US－CNB取材不当的3处均为良性。US－CNB诊断阳性率为94．44％（17／18）,特异性为100．00％（141／141）,正确率为99．37％（158／159）。结论：US－CNB诊断NPBL安全、创伤小、准确率高。     

临床触诊阴性的乳腺内微小病灶的外科活检

目的探讨应用乳腺摄片结合定位系统，对临床触诊阴性的乳腺内微小病变进行穿刺定位乳腺活检术的价值。方法回顾性分析总结82例临床触诊阴性、乳腺摄片发现乳腺的微小病变患者，实行穿刺定位引导下行外科切除活检术。结果82例患者均一次性手术切除病灶，金属定位线完整取出，无1例并发症，术后诊断乳腺癌22例（26．50％），余60例为良性病变。结论金属线定位行外科活检，是临床触诊阴性乳腺内微小病变定性诊断的有效方法，安全可靠。术前准确定位，病灶完全切除，术中冷冻准确是其成功关键。     

The Current Role of Vacuum Assisted Breast Biopsy System in Breast Disease

The gold standard for breast biopsy procedures is currently an open excision of the suspected lesion. However, an excisional biopsy inevitably makes a scar. The cost and morbidity associated with this procedure has prompted many physicians to evaluate less invasive, alternative procedures. More recently, image-guided percutaneous core-needle biopsy has become a frequently used method for diagnosing palpable and non-palpable breast lesions. Although sensitivity rates for core-needle biopsy are high, it has the disadvantage of histological underestimation, which renders the management of atypical ductal hyperplasia, papillary lesions, and fibroepithelial lesions somewhat difficult. Vacuum assisted breast biopsy (VABB) was developed to overcome some of these negative aspects of core-needle biopsy. VABB allows for a sufficient specimen to be obtained with a single insertion and can provide a more accurate diagnosis and completely remove the lesion under real-time ultrasonic guidance. The advantage of complete lesion removal with VABB is to reduce or eliminate sampling error, to decrease the likelihood of a histological underestimation, to decrease imaging-histological discordance, to decrease the re-biopsy rate, and to diminish the likelihood of subsequent growth on follow-up. In recent years, with the advancement of VABB instruments and techniques, many outcome studies have reported on the use of VABB for resecting benign breast lesions with a curative intent. VABB is highly accurate for diagnosing suspicious breast lesions and is highly successful at treating presumed benign breast lesions. Thus, in the near future, VABB will be routinely offered to all appropriately selected patients.     

蓝染法定位切除无肿块乳腺病灶的意义

背景与目的：随着乳腺影像技术的进步和推广,临床触诊未发现乳腺肿块而影像学检查发现高度可疑恶性病灶者越来越多。本研究旨在探讨乳腺钼靶立体定位美蓝染色引导切除活检对诊治这一类病灶的意义。方法：选取2002年8月至2006年10月中山大学肿瘤防治中心在临床触诊不到肿块而影像学检查发现高度可疑恶性乳腺病灶的患者138例。术前,在钼靶立体定位引导下注射少量美蓝到可疑病灶。以乳头为参照确定活检切口,将蓝染的乳腺组织切除。标本切除后,行标本钼靶照片并与原乳腺片对照,以确定切除的准确性。然后,按病理结果作相应处理。结果：全组138例患者通过上述方法均将可疑病灶准确切除。经病理检查84例（60．9％）诊断为乳腺癌,54例（39．1％）为良性病变。手术切口平均长度4．3cm,切除标本平均重量为42g。全组病例的切口均I期愈合。结论：对临床上无乳腺肿块而影像学检查发现高度可疑恶性的病灶应行切除活检。钼靶立体定位美蓝染色引导切除活检是一种准确率高、创伤性小且简单、价廉的方法,值得推广。     

Core Needle Biopsy of Breast Cancer Tumors Increases Distant Metastases in a Mouse Model

INTRODUCTION: Incisional biopsies, including the diagnostic core needle biopsy (CNB), routinely performed before surgical excision of breast cancer tumors are hypothesized to increase the risk of metastatic disease. In this study, we experimentally determined whether CNB of breast cancer tumors results in increased distant metastases and examine important resultant changes in the primary tumor and tumor microenvironment associated with this outcome. METHOD: To evaluate the effect of CNB on metastasis development, we implanted murine mammary 4T1 tumor cells in BALB/c mice and performed CNB on palpable tumors in half the mice. Subsequently, emulating the human scenario, all mice underwent complete tumor excision and were allowed to recover, with attendant metastasis development. Tumor growth, lung metastasis, circulating tumor cell (CTC) levels, variation in gene expression, composition of the tumor microenvironment, and changes in immunologic markers were compared in biopsied and non-biopsied mice. RESULTS: Mice with biopsied tumors developed significantly more lung metastases compared to non-biopsied mice. Tumors from biopsied mice contained a higher frequency of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) accompanied by reduced CD4 + T cells, CD8 + T cells, and macrophages, suggesting biopsy-mediated development of an increasingly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. We also observed a CNB-dependent up-regulation in the expression of SOX4, Ezh2, and other key epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) genes, as well as increased CTC levels among the biopsy group. CONCLUSION: CNB creates an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, increases EMT, and facilitates release of CTCs, all of which likely contribute to the observed increase in development of distant metastases.Abbreviations: CCAC, Canadian Council on Animal Care; CNB, core needle biopsy; CTCs, circulating tumor cells; EMT, epithelial-mesenchymal transition; H&E, hematoxylin and eosin; MDSCs, myeloid-derived suppressor cells; PGE2, prostaglandin E2     

US-guided 14G Core Needle Biopsy: Comparison Between Underestimated and Correctly Diagnosed Breast Cancers

Background: The purpose of study was to evaluate radiologic or clinical features of breast cancer undergoingultrasound (US)-guided 14G core needle biopsy (CNB) and analyze the differences between underestimated andaccurately diagnosed groups. Materials and Methods: Of 1,898 cases of US-guided 14G CNB in our institute,233 cases were proven to be cancer by surgical pathology. The pathologic results from CNB were invasive ductalcarcinoma (IDC) (n=157), ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (n=40), high-risk lesions in 22 cases, and benign in14 cases. Among high-risk lesions, 7 cases of atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) were reported as cancer and 11cases of DCIS were proven IDC in surgical pathology. Some 29 DCIS cases and 157 cases of IDC were correctlydiagnosed with CNB. The clinical and imaging features between underestimated and accurately diagnosed breastcancers were compared. Results: Of 233 cancer cases, underestimation occurred in 18 lesions (7.7%). Amongunderestimated cancers, CNB proven ADH (n=2) and DCIS (n=11) were diagnosed as IDC and CNB provenADH (n=5) were diagnosed at DCIS finally. Among the 186 accurately diagnosed group, the CNB results wereIDC (n=157) and DCIS (n=29). Comparison of underestimated and accurately diagnosed groups for BI-RADScategory, margin of mass on mammography and US and orientation of lesion on US revealed statistically significantdifferences. Conclusions: Underestimation of US-guided 14G CNB occurred in 7.7% of breast cancers. Betweenunderestimated and correctly diagnosed groups, BI-RADS category, margin of the mass on mammography andmargin and orientation of the lesions on US were different.     

Evaluation of stereotactic core needle biopsy (SCNB) of the breast at a single institution

Stereotactic core needle biopsy (SCNB) has become a popular method for diagnosis of occult breast abnormalities. There are few large series of SCNB from a single institution. Data on patients undergoing SCNB for mammographic abnormalities were collected prospectively over 43 months at a university hospital. Mammographic findings were categorized as benign, probably benign, indeterminate, suspicious or malignant. For lesions with SCNB pathology that were non-diagnostic, showed atypical hyperplasia or malignancy (in situ or invasive), or were discordant with the pre-biopsy mammogram findings, surgical excision was recommended. Subsequent surgical pathology was reviewed. All remaining lesions were followed mammographically after SCNB. SCNB was performed on 692 lesions in 607 patients. There were 79 malignancies, for a positive SCNB rate of 11.4%. The 349 SCNB performed for benign, probably benign and indeterminate lesions on mammography had a positive SCNB rate of only 4%. Surgery was recommended for 127 (18.3%) lesions, while 565 (81.6%) were followed mammographically after SCNB. A compliance rate of 61% for at least one follow-up mammogram was obtained, with a median follow-up of 17.2 months and with no cancers found. The sensitivity for malignancy with SCNB was 93%. SCNB provides a minimally invasive method to assess mammographic abnormalities. Abnormalities considered radiographically to be other than malignant or suspicious yielded few cancers. In this series a low positive SCNB rate resulted in no false negatives on mammographic follow-up. The optimal positive biopsy rate for SCNB is debatable.     

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.     

Preoperative Core Needle Biopsy does not Increase Local Recurrence Rate in Breast Cancer Patients

Summary Objective. Several case reports and clinical studies in the literature demonstrate needle track seeding after core needle biopsy in patients with breast cancer in up to 50% of cases. The impact of this observation on local recurrence and overall survival rate is, however, not fully investigated. Patients and design. We retrospectively analysed 719 patients after breast conserving surgery and postoperative radiotherapy for stage I and II breast cancer. We divided this group into patients with (189) and without (530) preoperative core needle biopsy. Demographic data, local recurrence and overall survival rate were compared between these two groups. Result. Preoperative core needle biopsy did not significantly influence the local free recurrence rate (median follow-up time of 78 and 71 months, respectively). The prognostic factors and the postoperative therapy did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusion. Preoperative core needle biopsy seems to have no detrimental impact on local recurrence and overall survival after breast conserving surgery and postoperative radiotherapy.     

Complete Surgical Excision Is Necessary following Vacuum-Assisted Biopsy for Breast Cancer

Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) has been replacing excisional biopsy in the treatment of benign breast lesions. Complete surgical excision is still needed for the lesions occasionally diagnosed with breast cancer after VABB. We aimed to characterize residual tumors after VABB and define a subset of patients who do not need surgical excision after VABB. From a retrospective database, we identified patients diagnosed with breast cancer after VABB guided with ultrasonography. Patients who underwent stereotactic biopsies were excluded. We reviewed clinicopathologic data and radiologic findings of the sample. We identified 48 patients with 49 lesions. After surgical excision, the residual tumors were identified in 40 (81.6%) lesions, and there was no residual tumor in nine (18.3%) patients. Imaging studies could not accurately locate residual tumors after VABB. A small tumor size on a VABB specimen was associated with no residual tumor on final pathology. However, residual tumors were identified in four (40%) of 10 lesions with a pathologic tumor size less than 0.5 cm. In conclusion, complete surgical excision remains the primary option for most of the patients diagnosed with breast cancer after VABB. Imaging surveillance without surgery should be carefully applied for selected low-risk patients.     

Is Stereotactic Large-Core Needle Biopsy Beneficial Prior to Surgical Treatment in BI-RADS 5 Lesions?

INTRODUCTION: Due to screening mammography, more nonpalpable mammographic lesions warrant histological evaluation. Stereotactic large-core needle biopsy (SLCNB) has been shown to be as effective in diagnosing these lesions as diagnostic surgical excision, and has become the preferred diagnostic procedure for most mammographic lesions. Since radiologically malignant BI-RADS 5 lesions are almost always carcinoma, some centers advocate prompt diagnostic surgical excision for these lesions instead of SLCNB. For some patients this diagnostic surgical intervention may serve as definitive treatment. We set out to find a subgroup of mammographic BI-RADS 5 lesions for which surgical biopsy might be preferable. METHODS: Of 1644 consecutive nonpalpable lesions referred for SLCNB between April 1997 and May 2002, 238 were classified as BI-RADS 5. We assessed the number of carcinomas and the surgical interventions performed. Outcomes were compared between various types of mammographic lesions: density with calcifications, density without calcifications, and calcifications only. Different theoretical strategies for diagnostic work-up of BI-RADS 5 lesions were explored. RESULTS: Carcinoma was found in 229/238 lesions (96%). Most mammographic densities were invasive cancer (97%), while calcifications only showed the highest risk for DCIS (51%). In our study (current practice) all lesions were scheduled to first undergo SLCNB. A scenario was proposed where all lesions with only a density would be scheduled directly for sentinel node biopsy (SNB) and tumour excision (n = 154; 65%), while other lesions would still be scheduled for SLCNB. When we compared this scenario to current practice, four out of 238 patients (< 2%) would be 'overtreated' with SNB. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm a high predictive value of malignancy for BI-RADS 5 lesions (96%). Surgical excision is therefore imperative for all BI-RADS 5 lesions, irrespective of SLCNB results. For BI-RADS 5 lesions presenting as mammographic densities only, we propose to consider surgical excision with SNB to be the first diagnostic and therapeutic procedure. SLCNB is preferred in all other cases.     

The Role of Stereotactic Biopsy in the Management of Gliomas

Neurosurgeons must use accurate diagnostic techniques that confirm characteristics of individual glial neoplasms before recommending specific treatments. These diagnostic methods must reach all brain locations and be appropriate for patients of all ages and medical conditions. We believe that CT- or MR-based stereotactic biopsy is the best way to guide management in patients who do not require craniotomy for tumor mass effect. As our understanding of the biology of different tumors increases, we anticipate that even more specific therapeutic approaches will be developed that will require a histologic diagnosis and perhaps even new approaches to tumor classification and grading.