Long-term outcomes of stereotactic breast biopsies

Stereotactic core needle biopsies (SCNBs) are accurate and relatively convenient for the patient; however, the long-term follow-up of benign results has not been reported. All patients between 1993 and 1998 undergoing SCNB at a community-based hospital were entered into a registry. Follow-up was obtained by a retrospective analysis of the charts. Biopsies were performed on 865 lesions. One hundred thirty-one (15%) were malignant, 42 (5%) were suspicious for malignancy, 687 (79%) were benign, and five (1%) were lobular carcinoma in situ. Of the 42 patients with suspicious findings 38 underwent biopsy. Ten were malignant and 28 benign. Of the 687 patients with benign pathology, 377 had follow-up available with a mean length of 1.7 years. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of SCNB for benign lesions in our study are all 100 per cent. Eight lesions were worrisome and await final analysis. Of 687 patients with benign lesions 310 were lost to follow-up. This study suggests that patients with a benign diagnosis should be returned to routine mammography. These data also extend the reported follow-up to 1.7 years and establish an acceptable level of accuracy for SCNB. The lost patients remind us that follow-up is essential despite a benign diagnosis.