Ultrasound-guided needle biopsy of the breast

To determine the role of office-based ultrasound in the early clinical evaluation of breast masses, a consecutive series of diagnostic and interventional breast ultrasounds performed in the surgeon's office were prospectively studied.

A series of 1028 diagnostic ultrasounds were performed in 662 patients over 2 years. The clinical-pathologic data from those patients undergoing ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB; n = 267 patients) and/or core needle biopsy (CNB; n = 210 patients) were reviewed.

Of the 267 patients undergoing initial FNAB, 179 cysts were identified; 25 patients underwent no additional intervention, and 63 patients with apparently solid lesions underwent subsequent CNB. Core needle biopsy was the initial interventional approach in 147 cases. Of the 210 total patients in whom a CNB was performed, needle biopsy pathologic findings included:fibroadenoma, 57 patients; fibrocystic breast change, 82 patients; carcinoma, 53 patients; abscess/cyst, 12 patients; and other, 6 patients. Operative excision was performed in 106 of these 210 patients. There was a significantly higher false-negative rate among those patients who underwent an initial FNAB (20%; 2/10 patients) as compared with those patients undergoing CNB (3.6%; 2/55 patients; P < . 05). No cancers have been identified in those patients undergoing a benign CNB and followed for 6 to 30 months (median, 18 months).

Office-based diagnostic ultrasound and interventional ultrasound that uses core needle biopsy is an effective adjunct to the early clinical evaluation of breast masses.