BACKGROUND: Wound complication rates after mastectomy are associated with several factors, but little information is available correlating biopsy technique with the development of postmastectomy wound complications. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy is an accurate method to establish a diagnosis, but it is unknown whether this approach has an impact on complications after mastectomy. METHODS: Charts of 283 patients undergoing 289 mastectomies were reviewed to investigate any association between biopsy technique and postmastectomy complications. RESULTS: The diagnosis of breast cancer was made by FNA biopsy in 50%, open biopsy in 49.7%, and core needle biopsy in 0.3%. The overall wound infection rate was 5.3% (14 of 266), but only 1.6% when FNA biopsy was used compared with 6.9% with open biopsy (p = 0.06). Among 43 patients undergoing breast reconstruction concomitantly with mastectomy, the infection rate was 7.1% (0% after FNA, 12% after open biopsy). Neither the development of a postoperative seroma (9.8%) nor skin flap necrosis (5.6%) was influenced by the biopsy technique used. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that wound infections after mastectomy may be reduced when the diagnosis of breast cancer is established by FNA biopsy.
BACKGROUND: Wound complication rates after mastectomy are associated with several factors, but little information is available correlating biopsy technique with the development of postmastectomy wound complications. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy is an accurate method to establish a diagnosis, but it is unknown whether this approach has an impact on complications after mastectomy. METHODS: Charts of 283 patients undergoing 289 mastectomies were reviewed to investigate any association between biopsy technique and postmastectomy complications. RESULTS: The diagnosis of breast cancer was made by FNA biopsy in 50%, open biopsy in 49.7%, and core needle biopsy in 0.3%. The overall wound infection rate was 5.3% (14 of 266), but only 1.6% when FNA biopsy was used compared with 6.9% with open biopsy (p = 0.06). Among 43 patients undergoing breast reconstruction concomitantly with mastectomy, the infection rate was 7.1% (0% after FNA, 12% after open biopsy). Neither the development of a postoperative seroma (9.8%) nor skin flap necrosis (5.6%) was influenced by the biopsy technique used. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that wound infections after mastectomy may be reduced when the diagnosis of breast cancer is established by FNA biopsy.
Authors: C Rotstein; R Ferguson; K M Cummings; M R Piedmonte; J Lucey; A Banish Journal: Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol Date: 1992-04 Impact factor: 3.254
Authors: R Platt; D F Zaleznik; C C Hopkins; E P Dellinger; A W Karchmer; C S Bryan; J F Burke; M A Wikler; S K Marino; K F Holbrook Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1990-01-18 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: J D Beatty; G V Robinson; J A Zaia; J R Benfield; M M Kemeny; M M Meguid; D U Riihimaki; J J Terz; M E Lemmelin Journal: Arch Surg Date: 1983-12
Authors: Min Yi; Steven J Kronowitz; Funda Meric-Bernstam; Barry W Feig; W Fraser Symmans; Anthony Lucci; Merrick I Ross; Gildy V Babiera; Henry M Kuerer; Kelly K Hunt Journal: Cancer Date: 2010-10-13 Impact factor: 6.860