Stereotactic 9-gauge vacuum-assisted breast biopsy, how many specimens are needed?

Utility of detection of breast calcifications with integrated real-time radiography system (IRRS) during digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT)-guided vacuum assisted biopsy (VAB): initial single-center experience

PURPOSE

To determine whether the presence of calcifications in specimens collected during stereotactic-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsies (VABB) is sufficient to ascertain their adequacy for final diagnosis at pathology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT)-guided VABBs were performed on 74 patients with calcifications as target. Each biopsy consisted of the collection of 12 samplings with a 9-gauge needle. This technique was integrated with a real-time radiography system (IRRS) which allowed the operator to determine whether calcifications were included in the specimens at the end of each of the 12 tissue collections through the acquisition of a radiograph of every sampling. Calcified and non-calcified specimens were separately sent to pathology and evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 888 specimens were retrieved, 471 containing calcifications and 417 without. In 105 (22.2%) samples out of 471 with calcifications cancer was detected, while the remaining 366 (77.7%) were non-cancerous. Out of 417 specimens without calcifications 56 (13.4%) were cancerous, whereas 361 (86.5%) were non-cancerous. Seven hundred and twenty-seven specimens out of all 888 were cancer-free (81.8%, 95%CI 79-84%).

CONCLUSION

Although there is a statistical significative difference between calcified and non-calcified samples and the detection of cancer (p < 0.001), our study shows that the sole presence of calcifications in the specimens is not sufficient to determine their adequacy for final diagnosis at pathology because non-calcified samples can be cancerous and vice-versa. Ending biopsies when calcifications are first detected through IRRS could lead to false negative results.

Use of Real Time Specimen Radiography to Evaluate the Number of Stereotactic Core Biopsy Specimens Containing Calcifications Required for Diagnosis

OBJECTIVE

To determine the minimum number of stereotactic biopsy specimens containing calcifications sufficient for pathologic diagnosis and the minimum number of specimens containing calcifications sufficient for immunohistochemistry (IHC) in cases of malignancy.

METHODS

In this IRB-exempt quality assurance initiative, individual specimens from 126 patients with 129 calcified targets retrieved using a stereotactic system with real time specimen imaging were prospectively analyzed. Pathology was reported independently for each specimen containing calcifications. In every case, the pathologist reported which specimen containing calcifications was sufficient for diagnosis and, in cases of malignancy, which calcified specimen was sufficient for diagnosis and IHC.

RESULTS

A diagnosis was made from the first calcified specimen in 74% of cases (95/129), from the first two calcified specimens in 92% (119/129) of cases, and from the first three calcified specimens in 100% of cases. Pathology was benign in 66% (85/129) of cases, with the diagnosis made from the first calcified specimen in 78% (66/85) of cases. High-risk lesions were the primary pathology in 8% (11/129) of cases, with 55% (6/11) diagnosed from the first calcified specimen. Pathology was malignant in 26% (33/129) of cases. The first calcified specimen was sufficient for diagnosis and IHC in 73% (24/33) of malignancies and the first three calcified specimens were sufficient for diagnosis and IHC in all cases of malignancy.

CONCLUSION

Three cores verified to contain calcifications on real time specimen imaging were sufficient to make a diagnosis in all cases and to make a diagnosis and obtain IHC in nearly all cases of malignancy.

Vacuum-Assisted Breast Biopsy System: No Innovation Without Evaluation

Background Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) has recently been gaining more popularity as a modality to reach the final diagnosis, especially in indeterminate breast lesions, resulting in a decreased number of surgical interventions and unnecessary follow-ups. Objective While our primary aim was to look into the outcomes of the VABB technique, our secondary aim was to assess the impact of the method on changes in patients' management. Patients and methods This study was a retrospective database analysis of vacuum-assisted biopsies (VABs) carried out at our breast unit during the period between January 2011 and January 2018. All our cases were image-guided; the caliber of vacuum-assisted needles used was 8 gauge (G) and 11 G. Patient demographics, lesion characteristics, and outcomes were retrieved from patients' notes and the hospital database. Results A total of 122 female patients were included in the analysis, out of whom 41.8% (51 patients) were screen-detected, and 58.1% (71 patients) were symptomatic presentations. The mean lesion size on imaging was 14.8 mm (SD: 12.6); 50% (61 patients) had stereotactic vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (SVAB), and 50% (61 patients) had ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (US-VAB). Post-procedure histology was upgraded in 19.6% (24 patients), downgraded in 18.8% (23 patients), and remained unchanged in 61.4% (75 patients). Conclusion VABB is a safe and efficient procedure for the diagnosis and management of indeterminate and suspicious breast lesions. It provides an adequate amount of tissue, which can help in upgrading or downgrading histopathologically diagnosed patients, thereby decreasing the need for surgery.

Value of stereotactic 11-gauge vacuum-assisted breast biopsy in non-palpable suspicious calcifications: an eight-year single institution experience with 587 patients

Background

Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) has been routinely recommended for stereotactic intervention in cases of isolate mammographically-detected calcifications. Herein we aimed to evaluate and compare the diagnostic consistency and accuracy of calcified and noncalcified specimens obtained from same sites of sampling on mammography-visible calcifications. In addition, we presented the biopsy procedure and retrospectively evaluated the usefulness of VABB as well as the complications of this technique over an eight-year experience in our centre.

Methods

This single-institution observational cohort study included 587 patients referred for stereotactic 11-gauge VABB of 594 mammographically-detected calcifications between January 2010 and December 2018. The rate of histopathological underestimation, the false negative, the diagnostic consistency and accuracy between calcified and noncalcified specimens of VABB were comprehensively evaluated based on the surveillance data and final histopathological result of the surgical specimens.

Results

In total, 594 biopsy procedures were performed in 587 patients (mean age 46 years, range, 21-80 years). The average number of biopsy specimens was 14.7 (range, 9-21) per lesion. VABB pathological results revealed 471 (79.3%) benign, 39 (6.6%) high-risk, and 84 (14.1%) malignant cases. The diagnostic inconsistency between calcified and noncalcified specimens was 14.6% (105/123) for high-risk and malignant lesions. Furthermore, calcified specimens exhibited higher diagnostic accuracy of malignant lesion as compared with the noncalcified specimens (97.7% versus 82.6%, respectively). Underestimation rate for high-risk lesions and in situ carcinoma was 5.1% and 54.1%, respectively, along with a false negative rate of 6.25%. In addition, mild complications were reported with high patient tolerance.

Conclusions

Stereotactic 11G-VABB might be preferred for the investigation of non-palpable mammographically-detected calcifications in terms of accuracy and safety profile. The high prevalence of diagnostic discordance between the specimens with and without calcifications revealed a higher value of calcified specimens in diagnosing high-risk and malignant calcifications.