Application of image-guided biopsy for impalpable breast lesions in Chinese women

Screening for breast cancer has resulted in an increasing number of mammographically detected lesions that require further management. The Advanced Breast Biopsy Instrumentation system is a recently added biopsy technique for the management of such lesions. The present paper will review the authors' experience in the use of this procedure in Chinese patients whose breast volume was smaller than that of Caucasians.

Ninety-three patients were listed for the procedure and 78 (84%) underwent the procedure successfully. Ninety-two lesions were biopsied. Advanced Breast Biopsy Instrumentation (ABBI) was performed for clustered microcalcifications or abnormal mass/density. Minimally Invasive Breast Biopsy (MIBB), a suction-assisted core biopsy device, was employed for more scattered lesions. For small volume breasts, it may be required to bring the hand through the aperture to get the targeted lesions onto the digital image or, in the case of ABBI, to excise just beyond the deep margin of the lesion rather than the recommended depth.

The ABBI was performed for 43 (46.7%) lesions and MIBB for 49 (53.3%) lesions. Nine (9.8%) were diagnosed to have ductal carcinoma in situ, two (2.2%) had ductal carcinoma in situ with microinvasion and eight (8.7%) had invasive ductal carcinoma. All the malignant lesions required further management. In addition, 19 (20.7%) were found to have atypical hyperplasia. Patients' satisfaction and cosmetic outcome are good.

The ABBI and MIBB procedures can be applied satisfactorily for biopsy of mammographic lesions with good -cosmetic outcome in Chinese patients.