F85Impact of ultrasound‐guided large‐core needle biopsy with frozen section on surgical management of breast cancer

Abstract

The authors have undertaken to establish the ultrasound‐guided large‐core needle (14 G) biopsy with frozen section in preoperative histologic examination of palpable and nonpalpable breast tumors as well as to investigate the diagnostic reliability and significance of this procedure in breast cancer surgery. In 1998/99, 125 patients were surgically treated for breast lesions at the Department of OB/GYN II, Comenius University School of Medicine, Bratislava. 55 patients were operated for malign tumors. 38 of them (69%) were preoperative examined by ultrasound‐guided core‐cut biopsy. The core biopsy specimens were evaluated by frozen section and paraffin section. The results were then correlated with definitive paraffin sections from the surgical specimens. The correlation has not revealed any falsely positive or negative results. Therefore, the authors state that in correctly indicated cases, this procedure apparently represents a reliable method for preoperative histologic examination of breast tumors. Examination of core breast biopsy specimens with frozen section can minimize the interval between diagnosis and treatment, decrease the number of open diagnostic biopsies and reduce the time of surgery by period necessary for per‐operative frozen‐section.