Stereotaxic vacuum core breast biopsy--experience of 560 patients

The purpose of our study was the assessment of the diagnostic value of vacuum core biopsy, which promises high accuracy. The material used were a digital stereotaxic biopsy table (Fischer Imaging) and a Mammotome-gun (Biopsys). A total of 560 patients with 594 predominantly indeterminate lesions underwent vacuum core biopsy (VCB). Verification was a follows: (a) demonstration of complete or partial removal of the lesion or replacement of the lesion by a small hematoma by comparison of the pre- and post-VCB mammogram; (b) reexcision of 105 malignant and 13 borderline lesions; (c) radiologic-histologic correlation; (d) 6-month-follow-up mammograms in 460 cases. Five puncture errors occurred which, however, were immediately recognized and VCB was repeated. Based on the above verification a 100% accuracy was achieved. Only one relevant hematoma that required surgical excision occurred. Except for one case mammographically any severe scaring was visible. Based on the excellent accuracy and excellent tolerance of the procedure VCB appears to be the future method of choice for the workup of those indeterminate mammographically detected lesions that up to now have still required surgical biopsy.