Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026
Optimization of Breast Biopsy and Mastectomy Sample Collection Procedures for Biobanking, Personalized Medicine, and Research Applications
Published on: September 2, 2025
Cost-effectiveness of two breast biopsy procedures: surgical biopsy versus vacuum-assisted biopsy
C A Pistolese1, A Ciarrapico, T Perretta
1Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Imaging Molecolare, Radiologia Interventistica e Terapia Radiante, Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata (PTV), Viale Oxford 81, 00133, Rome, Italy. chiarapistolese@gmail.com
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to compare the cost-effectiveness of two breast biopsy procedures: surgical biopsy and vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB).
Materials And Methods:
Between November 2008 and September 2009, 200 patients with suspicious breast lesions underwent biopsy procedures at our radiology department: 100 underwent VAB and 100 underwent surgical biopsy. 66 lesions were sampled under sonographic guidance, 109 under mammographic guidance and 25 under magnetic resonance guidance.
Results:
All procedures were successfully completed. No significant differences in diagnostic efficacy were found between the biopsy procedures. Surgical biopsy has a higher unit cost compared with VAB.
Conclusions:
Our analysis emphasises the benefits of VAB compared with surgical biopsy in terms of both cost-effectiveness, and less invasiveness from a psychological and aesthetic point of view.
