Mammographic fine needle biopsy of non-palpable breast lesions

Results with a previously described device for fine needle biopsies of non-palpable breast lesions are reported. During the past 5 years 182 biopsies were performed and 133 of these yielded diagnostic cell material. In the series, 41 carcinomas were found and fine needle biopsy in all demonstrated malignant or probably malignant cells. In the biopsies evaluated as benign or probably benign, malignancy has not been found during the observation period of 4 to 59 months (mean 21.5 months). The device described is cheap and biopsy is easily performed and, if necessary, repeated in a short time. The diagnostic accuracy is high and carcinomas as small as 3 mm in diameter have been diagnosed.