The Role of a Needle Localization Breast Biopsy for the Diagnosis of Nonpalpable Breast Cancer

PURPOSES: Efforts directed at early detection of breast cancer have resulted in an increased incidence of nonpalpable mammographic lesions that warrant excisional biopsy. The most common localization method is the needle-localization biopsy. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness and the usefulness of a needle localization biopsy in the diagnostic work-up of nonpalpable mammographic abnormalities that are suspected of being cancerous, and to determine the frequency of malignancy detection as well as the incidence of noninvasive carcinoma. METHODS: One hundred seventy eight needle-localization biopsies of nonpalpable breast lesions were performed at Samsung Medical Center from January 1995 to December 1999. A retrospective review was undertaken to assess histopathologic findings based on mammographic abnormalities, as well as pathologic staging and the treatment of breast cancer detected by needle-localization biopsy. RESULTS: Needle-localization biopsies led to the diagnosis of malignancy in 29.8% of the biopsies. Of the malignancies detected, 81.2% were in-situ carcinomas. Invasive carcinomas were less than 2 cm in size (T1) in 70% of the cases and were 2 to 5 cm (T2) in 30% of the cases; there were no evidence of lymph node metastases in 70% of the cases. Overall, 90.6% of the patients were found to be within pathologic stage 0 or stage 1. Microcalcifications only were more related with DCIS than mass density with or without microcalcifications findings. Fine linear, branching, granular, pleomorphic microcalcifications findings and ill defined, irregular, spiculated mass densities were likely to result in higher rate of malignancy. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that needle- localization breast biopsy of nonpalpable suspicious mammographic lesions is an important and effective method for the detection of early breast cancer and noninvasive carcinomas. Appropriate selection ofcases for needle localization biopsy should be made to avoid unnecessary breast biopsies and to increase the percentage of early breast cancer.

The Role of Needle Localization Breast Biopsy for the Diagnosis of Nonpalpable Breast Cancer / 한국유방암학회지

Purposes: Efforts directed at early detection of breast cancer have resulted in an increased incidence of nonpalpable mammographic lesions that warrant excisional biopsy. The most common localization method is the needle-localization biopsy. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effectiveness and the usefulness of needle-localization biopsy in the diagnostic work-up of nonpalpable mammographic abnormalities that are suspected of being cancerous, and to determine the frequency of malignancy detection and the incidence of noninvasive carcinoma. Materials and METHODS: One hundred seventy eight needle-localization biopsies of nonlpalpable breast lesions were performed at Samsung Medical Canter from January 1995 to December 1999. A retrospective review was undertaken to assess histopathologic findings based on mammorgraphic abnormalities, as well as the pathologic staging and the treatment of breast cancer detected by needle-localization biopsy. RESULTS: Needle-localization biopsies led to the diagnosis of malignancy in 29.8% of the biopsies. Of the malignancies detected, 81.2% were in-situcarcinoma. Invasive carcinoma were less than 2cm in size(T1) in 70% of the cases and were 2 to 5cm(T2) in 30% of the cases; there were no evidence of lymph node metastases in 70% of th cases. Overall, 90.6% of the patients were found to be within pathologic stage 0 or stage 1. Microcalcifications only were more related with DCIS than mass density with or without microcalcifications findings. Fine linear, branching, granular, pleomorphic microcalcifications findings and ill defined, irregular, spiculated mass densities were likely to result in higher rate of malignancy. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that needle-localization breast biopsy of nonpalpable suspicious mammographic lesions is an important and effective method for the detection of early breast cancer and noninvasive carcinomas. Appropriate selection of cases for needle localization biopsy should be made to avoid unnecessary breast biopsies and to increase the percentage of early breast cancer.

Needle Localization Biopsy of Nonpalpable lesions of Breast under the Local Anesthesia

In performing needle localization breast biopsies(NLBB) under local anesthesia in an outpatient setting, we investigated, whether complication rates would be acceptable when compared with complications of the breast performed for palpable masses. We were also interested in determining whether our rate of missed biopsies would be acceptable or not. We performed the NLBB on 55 patients with a nonpalpable breast lesion, and open biopsy on 98 patients with a palpable breast mass under local anesthesia from 1992 to 1995. The missed biopsy rate was one (1.8%) of 55. Complication of NLBB occured in 4 cases(7.3%), including 1 case of seroma, 2 cases of hematoma, and 1 case of abscess. The complication rate was not statistically different from NLBB(7.3%) and open biopsy(6.1%). (P=0.25) Eleven carcinomas, including 8 cases of invasive and 3 cases of DCIS, were found with NLBB procedure.. But there was no in situ carcinoma among the palpable lesions. Needle localization breast biopsies can be performed under local anesthesia and complications rates were similar to those associated with biopsies of palpable lesions. But missed biopsy could occur if the localization was not performed exactly.