First experiences with a new vacuum-assisted device for breast biopsy

Abstract

Stereotaxic and sonographically guided vacuum biopsies are standard methods in interventional breast procedures. We report about the newly developed sonographically guided and vacuum-assisted VacuFlash (VF) method for breast biopsy. In comparison to the Mammotome system, all components for vacuum biopsy are integrated in the hand-held gun of the VF biopsy system. Our first preliminary results in 5 patients are reported. VF was performed in five patients with a nonpalpable, sonographically detectable lesion. The histopathological examination diagnosed a fibroadenoma in 4 patients and established unremarkable breast parenchyma in 1 patient. Subsequent sonography immediately after the biopsy revealed that 3 of the 5 lesions were completely removed. The VF biopsy system is a new, technically perfected and applicable diagnostic method. Its costs, risks and accuracy have to be compared with high-speed core cut biopsy, hand-held Mammotome system and open surgical biopsy. Indications for the VF-biopsy are lesions that are too small, superficial or deep for conventional core biopsy as well as abnormalities where wide sampling is considered important. Complete removal can only be expected when the lesion is small and plays a secondary role in a diagnostic process. High-speed core cut biopsy remains the standard procedure in percutaneous breast interventions to clarify sonographically detected breast lesions.