[Ultrasound-guided biopsies for breast nodules: value of automatic biopsy needle]

Within 18 month, 83 solid breast nodules were biopsied with a long throw biopsy gun with 18 gauge needle (Monopty, Bard Urological, Covington) and a 13 Mhz real time AU 530 (Easote Biomedica, Italy) for the ultrasound guidance. The biopsy procedure was well tolerated with no serious complications, and with no insufficient material. US guided biopsy detected 9 cancers, 47 specific benign lesions (39 fibroadenomas, 1 lipofibroadenoma, 4 sclerosing adenoses, 1 fibromatosis, 1 cyst, 1 lymphadenopathy) and 27 non specific benign fibrocystic dystrophy. In 14 out of the 15 nodules surgically removed, the histological diagnoses were identical. In the one remaining case a fibroadenomas was assessed. In the 36 other cases no evolution occurred. US guided core biopsy with automatic device is probably a very useful approach of uncertain pathological diagnoses in mastology.