Stereotactic core breast biopsy versus needle localization breast biopsy - the effect of initial diagnostic modality on surgical therapy in patients with breast cancer

Abstract

Summary. The aim was to assess the effect of the initial diagnostic modality on surgical planning in patients with mammographically detected malignancies. A retrospective chart review of 40 patients with mammographically detected breast cancer was undertaken. The diagnosis was established in 20 patients by needle localization breast biopsy and in 20 patients by stereotactic core breast biopsy. In patients whose diagnosis was established by stereotactic core breast biopsy, all were treated with only one operation per patient. In those patients whose diagnosis was established by needle localization breast biopsy, an average of 2.1 surgeries per patient were required to diagnose and treat this group. Patients with abnormal mammograms should have the diagnosis established by stereotactic biopsy. If the lesion was malignant, a planned one-stage definitive operation was successful in all of our patients. We feel that stereotactic core biopsy is the preferred method for establishing a diagnosis in patients with suspicious mammographic findings.