Ultrasound-guided seven-gauge vacuum-assisted excision for benign breast lesions: A single expert surgeon experience

A large percentage of women fear benign breast lesion surgery, and it is a burden to the healthcare system. Ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted excision (VAE) is as effective as surgery but does not require general anaesthesia, leaves no scars, and improves patient satisfaction.

A retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort research carried out on recorded data of a single breast surgeon. VAE was performed on 611 patients with ACR BIRADS 3 or 4a lesions utilising EnCor Enspire equipment and a 7G probe. The average follow-up time was 30.25 ± 9.12 months.

A total of 772 VAEs were performed on lesions with an average diameter of 18.81 ± 8.63 mm. Pathology results revealed fibroadenoma in 70.85% of cases and papilloma in 19.43%. The overall removal rate was 99.2%, and the upgrade rate was <1%. Fibroadenoma was significantly more common in younger people, had a larger width, and was located farther away from the nipple than papilloma. Individuals with a lesion size of 13.5 mm or less and an age of 36.5 years or older were more likely to have papilloma than fibroadenoma. The reported issues consisted of temporary localised discomfort and haematoma. There were no serious complications, no hospitalisation or operation as a result of a complication, and no infection or antibiotic use was reported.

VAE is a safe and effective alternative to open surgery for those with benign breast lesions. VAE can be utilised for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, making it a more cost-effective choice while also increasing patient satisfaction.