Vacuum needle biopsy of the breast with digital stereotaxic control--initial experiences with the Mammotome in Baden

The purpose of our study was to evaluate a stereotactic, percutaneous, vacuum-assisted breast biopsy system. The Mammotome (Biopsies) was used to perform breast biopsies in 35 of 37 patients using only one small incision. In two patients a biopsy was not possible: one lesion could not be positioned into the limited field of the digital CCD-camera. One lesion was not enough dense to be seen on digital images. Biopsies were performed because of suspicious microcalcifications (34) or nodules (3). Histology revealed 32 benign and 3 malignant lesions. We encountered 4 syncopes. Because the biopsies are performed in the sitting position, they were the cause we had to break up 2 biopsies. Relevant hematomas occurred in 4 cases. Vacuum assisted core biopsy has proven to be a safe and accurate technique for obtaining a histologic diagnosis in most patients who have screening-detected lesions; it is done at a lower cost with lower resultant morbidity to the patient compared with traditional surgical excisional biopsy. A certain learning phase must be granted.