Mammographic findings after 14-gauge automated needle and 14-gauge directional, vacuum-assisted stereotactic breast biopsies

PURPOSE: To compare findings from first imaging follow-up mammography for breast lesions shown to be benign at stereotactic biopsy with 14-gauge automated needles or 14-gauge directional, vacuum-assisted probes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 495 stereotactic breast biopsies, the mammographic appearance of the biopsy site or target lesion was evaluated at first imaging follow-up with a four-point scale (1 = progression of lesion or suspicious interval change [repeat biopsy], 2 = no clinically relevant change, 3 = interval decrease in size of lesion or number of microcalcifications, and 4 = no residual mammographic lesion). An automated needle was used in 363 biopsies and a directional, vacuum-assisted probe was used in 132 biopsies. Patient and lesion variables and time to first imaging follow-up were compared for the two techniques. RESULTS: No biopsy site or target lesion was assigned a score of I at first imaging follow-up with either technique. No lesion was referred for repeat biopsy because of the mammographic appearance at first imaging follow-up. First imaging followup was performed an average of 6.6 months for the directional, vacuum-assisted biopsies and 8.6 months for the automated needle biopsies (P < .0001). This difference reflected a difference in scheduling methods. CONCLUSION: Directional, vacuum-assisted and automated needle breast biopsies produced no distortion or suspicious interval change at the biopsy site at the first follow-up mammographic examination.