Ultrasound-guided biopsy of palpable breast masses

Objective: Breast ultrasound and US-guided interventional procedures of the breast are increasingly being applied and integrated in the diagnostic work-up and management of breast patients. The aim of the study was to assess the reliability of ultrasound-guided (US-guided) needle core biopsy of palpable breast masses with a 1.2 mm needle (18 gauge) in a fully automated firing device as an alternative to the existing surgical routine, i.e. surgical excision or palpation-guided Tru-Cut biopsy with a 2.0 mm needle (14 gauge) in a semi-automated device. Method: US-guided biopsy of palpable breast masses was prospectively, consecutively and openly compared to open surgical biopsy in a design closely connected to the routine diagnostic work-up of these patients. Results: 106 Patients with a palpable mass in one of their breasts were included in this study. The final diagnosis was the histological result of the open surgical biopsies, which were: 49 malignant lesions, 14 fibroadenomas, and 43 cases of fibrocystic disease. Forty-six malignant tumors were detectable ultrasonically and US-guided biopsy was performed, yielding adequate and correctly positive diagnoses in 41 cases (89%). Three US-guided samples were adequate for diagnosis but yielded a false-negative result. Two samples were excessively fragmented and thus inadequate for diagnosis. All 14 fibroadenomas were correctly diagnosed ultrasonically and US-guided sampling yielded a correct diagnosis in all but one case which was inadequate. The remaining 43 cases showed no abnormality on the sonogram and open biopsy yielded fibrocystic disease. Conclusion: US-guided biopsy of palpable breast masses can obviate open surgical biopsy whenever a mass is ultrasonically visible and it is strongly advocated to implement the procedure in the diagnostic work-up of these patients.