Management of non-malignant results in core needle biopsy of breast lesions

Abstract

To study the strategy of management of non-malignant results in core needle biopsy (CNB) of breast lesions. Consecutive 2654 breast lesions underwent CNB with 14-gauge automated needles. 1130 lesions with diagnosis of non-malignant breast lesions examined by CNB were followed up. The histological diagnosis of CNB, subsequent excision or repeat CNB, and the follow-up for cases without repeat biopsy were studied. Among the 1130 non-malignant breast lesions examined by CNB, 530 underwent re-biopsy and 73 cases of carcinoma were found. 491 lesions were followed up for 1 - 38 months (median, 13.3 months) and another 4 cases of carcinoma were found during the follow-up. 109 cases were lost to follow-up. 57.9% (22/38) of the atypical ductal hyperplasia, 22.2% (4/18) of the atypical ductal cells, 27.9% (24/86) of the papillary lesions, and 90.0% (9/10) of the suspicious carcinoma diagnosed by CNB were re-diagnosed as breast cancer finally. Repeat biopsy is required for the high-risk lesions diagnosed by breast CNB. Excision can be avoided on the benign lesions whose CNB diagnosis is consistent with those by physical examination and imaging.