[Minimally invasive stereotactic breast biopsy with the "mammotome". Methodology and personal experiences]

A new method of minimally invasive breast biopsy is described. The system components are a stereotactic biopsy table, a digital mammography, an automatic, computer-assisted needle positioning device and a new vacuum core biopsy needle. With this needle multiple core biopsies can be collected through a single insertion. The procedure was performed as outpatient status and was very well tolerated by the patients. Our experiences with this method are very promising. The method will reduce the relation of benign to malignant histology in open biopsies.