Needle-localized biopsy of the breast

Our experience with needle-localized biopsy for effective early detection and evaluation of carcinoma of the breast is discussed. Between January 1984 and December 1987, 266 women underwent 279 needle-localized biopsies of the breast performed at a large community teaching hospital. The majority of the women (221 of 266) were found to have benign disease of the breast and 162 of 221 of these were considered to have no increased risk of future carcinoma of the breast as determined by pathologic criteria. Thirty-eight women had primary malignant conditions. Seven patients had recurrent carcinomas after initial treatment with segmental mastectomy. The majority of both the primary and recurrent malignant lesions were infiltrating carcinoma. Using the Fischer exact test, a significant correlation (p less than 0.0004) was found between primary infiltrating carcinoma and a soft tissue mass on mammography. A significant correlation (p less than 0.03) was also found between primary intraductal carcinoma and clustered microcalcifications on mammography. Needle-localized biopsy of the breast provides early detection of carcinoma of the breast and identification of those at risk for subsequent carcinoma of the breast.