
Purpose: To evaluate a semiautomatic gun to retrieve diagnostic core specimens of lesions in the breast and the axillary region. Material and Methods: In a series of 180 consecutive core biopsies (2.1 mm), 145 (142 breasts and 3 axillae) were performed with a semiautomatic gun (18 stereotaxic and 127 US-guided) from lesions presenting mammographically as microcalcifications (n = 15) and opacities (n = 130). The gun did not work satisfactorily in 34 lesions, which were tumors with a very hard consistency. One additional patient was excluded because of technical failure. Biopsy diagnoses in the 145 patients were correlated to surgical histopathology, follow-up mammograms and/or clinical findings. Results: Histologic examination of the specimens resulted in correct diagnoses in 89% (129/145) of the total material and in 87% (108/124) of cancers. In 107 cases, in which only 1 specimen was obtained, 83 of 89 cancers (87%) were detected. Length of specimens ranged from 3 mm (n = 2) to 17 mm (n = 31). Among patients with a 17-mm-long specimen, there was only 1 false-negative diagnosis. Conclusion: The semiautomatic gun provided diagnostic specimens in a majority of cases and could be used as an alternative to the automatic guns when size or location of the lesions necessitates a high precision. It was not suitable for use in very hard tumors.
Adult, Aged, 80 and over, Biopsy, Needle, Reproducibility of Results, Equipment Design, Middle Aged, Radiography, Breast Diseases, Axilla, Feasibility Studies, Humans, Female, Aged, Ultrasonography
Adult, Aged, 80 and over, Biopsy, Needle, Reproducibility of Results, Equipment Design, Middle Aged, Radiography, Breast Diseases, Axilla, Feasibility Studies, Humans, Female, Aged, Ultrasonography
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