Ultrasound-Guided, Vacuum-Assisted Excision in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Clinically Benign Breast Lesions

INTRODUCTION: Ultrasound-guided, vacuum-assisted biopsy has a definitive role in the diagnosis of breast lesions. Its role in the treatment of benign breast lesions like fibroadenomas has not been established. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective review of patients undergoing ultrasound-guided, vacuum-assisted biopsy for clinically benign breast lesions. The procedures were performed in all cases by two consultant radiologists with special interest in breast radiology between February 2002 and January 2004. Patients were followed up in the clinic 6 weeks after the procedure. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients had ultrasound-guided, vacuum-assisted excision of clinically benign breast lesions during this 2-year period. Mean age of the patients was 31 years. Altogether, 86 procedures were performed. Six patients with larger lesions (> 2 cm) had two procedures on separate sitting and 4 patients had separate lesions excised on a later date. Fifty-six patients were identified to have fibroadenomas and had complete excisions as evidenced on scan. Three out of nine patients identified with equivocal disease on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) were found to have cancer following ultrasound-guided, vacuum-assisted excision. One patient who was diagnosed with cancer on FNAC, proved to be fibroadenoma on final histopathology. Four patients developed haematomas following ultrasound-guided, vacuum-assisted excision and all were managed conservatively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that ultrasound-guided, vacuum-assisted excision can play an efficient role in the diagnosis of benign breast lesions and is a safe and successful alternative in treatment of fibroadenomas.