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Stereotaxic core needle biopsy of breast microcalcifications: correlation of target accuracy and diagnosis with
M B Mainiero1, L E Philpotts, C H Lee
1Department of Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8042, USA.
Purpose:
To determine if lesion size or number of calcifications affects the ability to obtain microcalcifications or a specific histologic diagnosis at stereotaxic core needle biopsy (SCNB).
Materials And Methods:
Mammographic findings and histopathologic reports of 138 lesions in 124 patients (aged 30-87 years; mean age, 56.2 years) who underwent SCNB of calcifications were reviewed. Calcifications in the specimen and attainment of a specific diagnosis were correlated with lesion size and number of calcifications.
Results:
Calcifications were obtained in 118 cases (86%). A specific diagnosis was reported in 72 cases (52%). Differences in retrieval of calcifications or ability to establish a specific diagnosis with decreasing lesion size or decreasing number of calcifications were not statistically significant. Attainment of a specific diagnosis was significantly related to retrieval of calcifications (P<.005).
Conclusion:
SCNB was successful in obtaining calcifications in a high percentage of cases regardless of lesion size or number of calcifications. When calcifications were retrieved, a specific diagnosis was attained in most cases (72 of 118).
