R L Smathers1. 1. Good Samaritan Breast Care Center, Radiological Associates Medical Group, 2410 Samaritan Dr., Ste. 101, San Jose, CA 95124, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study reports the percentage of tissue in breast biopsy specimens from the lesion, and from the surrounding tissue, in 101 cases of Advanced Breast Biopsy Instrumentation (ABBI) biopsies. It also reports the status of the histologic margins for the malignant biopsies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred one consecutive ABBI biopsies were reviewed. The ABBI specimen radiographs were used to measure the area occupied by the entire specimen, the area excluding the lesion, and the area of the lesion alone. These areas, the length, and the width of all specimens were statistically analyzed using computer software. RESULTS: Of the 101 biopsies, histologic diagnosis was malignant in 27 and benign in 74. Of the 27 malignancies, four had negative margins and 23 had positive margins. Of the 23 with positive margins, eight were ductal carcinoma in situ (tumor within 0.5 mm or less of the surgical margin), and 15 were not ductal carcinoma in situ (tumor at the surgical margin). The average specimen length was 5.51 cm and the average width was 1.65 cm. The average percentage of lesion tissue was 9.9%. CONCLUSION: An average of 90.1% of tissue removed by ABBI biopsies was from surrounding tissue only. Uninvolved tissue is unfortunately included because of the cylindric geometry of the ABBI cannula. The ABBI biopsy has a high percentage (85.2%) of positive margins for malignant lesions and is poor excisional tool. For diagnostic biopsies, core needle biopsy is preferable because a smaller tissue volume is resected directly from the lesion site.
OBJECTIVE: This study reports the percentage of tissue in breast biopsy specimens from the lesion, and from the surrounding tissue, in 101 cases of Advanced Breast Biopsy Instrumentation (ABBI) biopsies. It also reports the status of the histologic margins for the malignant biopsies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred one consecutive ABBI biopsies were reviewed. The ABBI specimen radiographs were used to measure the area occupied by the entire specimen, the area excluding the lesion, and the area of the lesion alone. These areas, the length, and the width of all specimens were statistically analyzed using computer software. RESULTS: Of the 101 biopsies, histologic diagnosis was malignant in 27 and benign in 74. Of the 27 malignancies, four had negative margins and 23 had positive margins. Of the 23 with positive margins, eight were ductal carcinoma in situ (tumor within 0.5 mm or less of the surgical margin), and 15 were not ductal carcinoma in situ (tumor at the surgical margin). The average specimen length was 5.51 cm and the average width was 1.65 cm. The average percentage of lesion tissue was 9.9%. CONCLUSION: An average of 90.1% of tissue removed by ABBI biopsies was from surrounding tissue only. Uninvolved tissue is unfortunately included because of the cylindric geometry of the ABBI cannula. The ABBI biopsy has a high percentage (85.2%) of positive margins for malignant lesions and is poor excisional tool. For diagnostic biopsies, core needle biopsy is preferable because a smaller tissue volume is resected directly from the lesion site.