Experience with fine-wire localization breast biopsies for nonpalpable breast lesions detected mammographically

There is evidence to suggest that the early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer may be associated with a better prognosis. Technical advances such as mammography can detect nonpalpable breast lesions and changes associated with early carcinoma. With fine-wire localization under mammographic control, the surgeon can reliably remove nonpalpable lesions while sparing normal breast tissue. The authors describe the technique for fine-wire localization and removal of lesions and report their experience over 3 years with 262 women who underwent 269 biopsies for nonpalpable lesions. Four subgroups were identified: screened women who had no indication for mammography other than age, women who were referred for mammography by community physicians, a group referred to the Cancer Control Agency of British Columbia and a group referred to the agency for localization biopsy after mammography performed outside the Vancouver area had suggested a malignant lesion. The yield of cancers from biopsies was 10%, 38%, 43% and 26% respectively. The yield was significantly (p less than 0.05) lower for the screened group. Age over 60 years, previous breast cancer and mammographic technique were identified as possible predictors of a positive biopsy. The authors have found fine-wire localization biopsy a safe and reliable method of removing nonpalpable breast lesions.