Are breast biopsy markers underused?

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Devices
• Oncology

Background:

• Current practices for breast biopsy markers (BBM) among Australian and New Zealand radiologists are not well-documented.
• Understanding BBM usage is crucial for optimizing preoperative diagnosis and patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the current utilization of breast biopsy markers (BBM) by radiologists in Australia and New Zealand.
• To identify factors influencing the adoption and use of BBMs in clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was distributed to radiologists attending a national breast conference.
• The survey collected data on demographics, BBM use across various imaging modalities (ultrasound, stereotactic, tomosynthesis, MRI), displacement rates, and preoperative lesion localization (PLL).

Main Results:

• A 52% response rate was achieved, with most participants practicing in Australia.
• While 98% had BBMs available, 40% reported costs were not covered by insurance, impacting usage.
• Ultrasound-guided procedures demonstrated significantly lower rates of clinically significant BBM displacement (P=0.001).

Conclusions:

• This study provides novel data on BBM use in Australia and New Zealand, highlighting lower displacement with ultrasound guidance.
• Radiologist hesitation to use BBMs due to cost may influence biopsy technique selection.
• Establishing a Medicare item number for BBMs could promote wider adoption of best practices for preoperative breast lesion diagnosis.