Image-guided tissue sampling: where radiology meets pathology

Image-guided breast tissue sampling has become an acceptable alternative to open surgical biopsy for nonpalpable lesions. Advantages of minimally invasive core biopsy compared to open surgical biopsy include lower cost, lower complication rates, and less cosmetic deformity for patients. However, false-negative core biopsies can occur. Thus the imaging of a breast lesion and the histologic result of the core biopsy must be carefully correlated. This involves communication between radiology and pathology.