Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kyungpook National University College of Medicine, Korea.
Published online: January 1, 2001.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To evaluate the accuracy and usefulness of ultrasound-guided automated core biopsy in the histopathologic diagnosis of nonpalpable breast lesions. MATERIALS & METHODS: Ultrasound-guided automated core biopsies were performed upon sonographically detected 130 nonpalpable breast lesions using a biopsy gun with a 14-, 16- or 18-gauge needle. We evaluated whether the specimens obtained by ultrasound-guided automated core biopsy were sufficient for the histopathologic diagnosis and whether the histopathologic diagnoses made by ultrasound-guided automated core biopsy were consistent with that of surgical excisional biopsy in 14 nonplapable breast lesions which undergone operation. RESULTS: The histopathologic diagnoses were made in 126(96,9%) of 130 nonpalpable breast lesions. Four(3.1%) were insufficient for histopathologic diagnosis. Agreement between ultrasound-guided automated core biopsy and surgical excisional biopsy in 14 nonpalpable breast lesions was 100%. This group includes 6 infiltrating ductal carcinomas, 2 atypical ductal hyperplasias, 4 fibroadenomas and 2 fibrocystic disease. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided automated core biopsy is useful and could reduce surgical excisional biopsy in the histopathologic diagnosis of nonpalpable breast lesions.