Stereotactic needle breast biopsy: a review of current status and practice

The early detection of breast cancer is a concern to women and their physicians. Although screening mammography can identify early breast lesions, many are small and non-palpable. In the past, open excisional biopsy often was required to establish the diagnosis. Recently, stereotactic breast biopsy, a minimally invasive technique, has permitted tissue diagnosis of small lesions without open surgery, with results comparable to those obtainable with excisional biopsy. We reviewed this technique, its application in identifying small breast lesions, and in diagnosing breast cancer in its early stages.