A cohort study of mammography-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsy in patients with compressed thin breasts (≦ 3 cm)

Asian J Surg. 2023 Oct;46(10):4296-4301. doi: 10.1016/j.asjsur.2023.04.074. Epub 2023 May 5.

Abstract

Objectives: In the women with compressed thin thickness (≦ 3 cm), mammographic guiding vacuum-assist breast biopsy (MG-VABB) is a technical challenge. We herein report their performance of MG-VABB on suspicious microcalcification by modern mammography.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the consecutive MG-VABB in our hospital from February 2019 to January 2021. All the patients received biopsy because of suspicious microcalcifications discovered by mammography and had at least one-year post-biopsy follow-up.

Results: We reviewed 745 consecutive patients revealing 195 with compressed thin breasts ≦ 3 cm (mean age: 50.12 ± 7.0; breast thickness: 24.99 mm range 11.6-30 mm). Of the 191 patients received biopsy, the microcalcification retrieval rate was 97.9%. Using the half-open notch biopsy or horizontal needle approach, the biopsies were technically achieved in 30.4% and 9.4% of patients respectively. Regarding to the gold standard of surgicohistology, the cancer sensitivities was 88.46% and the atypia upgrade rate was 16.67%. There was no statistical difference of the procedure time between stereotactic guided and tomosynthesis guided.

Conclusions: The modern MG-VABB has technically improve the performance of biopsy to the patients with compressed thin breasts (≦ 3 cm), revealing approximate results to those breasts > 3 cm. The diagnosis helps the management of suspicious microcalcifications discovered by mammography.

Keywords: Breast biopsy; Breast cancer; Diagnosis; Microcalcifications; Needle biopsy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biopsy / methods
  • Breast / diagnostic imaging
  • Breast / pathology
  • Breast Diseases* / diagnostic imaging
  • Breast Diseases* / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Breast Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Calcinosis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Calcinosis* / pathology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image-Guided Biopsy / methods
  • Mammography / methods
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies