Stereotaxic core biopsy of impalpable spiculated breast masses Journal Article


Authors: Liberman, L.; Dershaw, D. D.; Rosen, P. P.; Cohen, M. A.; Hann, L. E.; Abramson, A. F.
Article Title: Stereotaxic core biopsy of impalpable spiculated breast masses
Abstract: OBJECTIVE. The role of stereotaxic core biopsy in evaluating mammographically detected lesions that have a high probability of being malignant is still debated. This study was undertaken to assess the use of stereotaxic core biopsy in evaluating spiculated masses, by determining the frequency with which core biopsy reduced the number of surgical procedures performed in the management of these highly suspicious lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Forty-three impalpable spiculated breast masses in 43 patients were sampled with stereotaxic core biopsy. All patients underwent surgery. Patient charts were reviewed to determine the histopathologic findings at stereotaxic core biopsy and at surgery, and the number and type of surgeries performed. RESULTS. Invasive carcinoma was identified at stereotaxic core biopsy in 40 (93%) of 43 patients. Therapeutic surgical procedures were lumpectomy in 28 patients (22 with axillary dissection) and mastectomy in 12. The presence of tumor at the lumpectomy margins led to subsequent mastectomy in one case. One lesion yielded atypical ductal hyperplasia at core biopsy; surgical biopsy revealed ductal carcinoma in situ. Surgical biopsy was recommended in two lesions yielding benign histologies at core biopsy and revealed invasive ductal carcinoma in one. Thirty-three (77%) of 43 patients had the number of surgical procedures reduced by stereotaxic core biopsy; these were patients with carcinoma diagnosed at core biopsy who underwent one-stage lumpectomy with axillary lymph node dissection or mastectomy. CONCLUSION. Stereotaxic core biopsy reduced the number of surgical procedures in most women with impalpable spiculated breast masses. These date suggest that stereotaxic core biopsy is a valuable diagnostic technique for assessing these lesions, which are likely to represent carcinoma.
Keywords: adult; clinical article; controlled study; human tissue; aged; clinical trial; lymph node dissection; controlled clinical trial; diagnostic imaging; axillary lymph node; mammography; breast carcinoma; partial mastectomy; breast biopsy; stereotaxic surgery; human; female; priority journal; article
Journal Title: American Journal of Roentgenology
Volume: 165
Issue: 3
ISSN: 0361-803X
Publisher: American Roentgen Ray Society  
Date Published: 1995-09-01
Start Page: 551
End Page: 554
Language: English
DOI: 10.2214/ajr.165.3.7645467
PUBMED: 7645467
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 28 August 2018 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. D David Dershaw
    223 Dershaw
  2. Laura Liberman
    176 Liberman
  3. Michael A Cohen
    14 Cohen
  4. Lucy E Hann
    69 Hann
  5. Paul P Rosen
    201 Rosen