Early experience in the use of the Advanced Breast Biopsy Instrumentation: a report of one hundred twenty-seven patients.

BACKGROUND: Recently there has been a great interest in developing alternative breast biopsy techniques that yield the appropriate histologic information in the least invasive and most cost-effective manner. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and results with the Advanced Breast Biopsy Instrumentation (ABBI) method for stereotactic excisional biopsies of nonpalpable mammographically detected breast lesions.

METHODS: All patients with nonpalpable mammographic abnormalities who fulfilled the selection criteria for the ABBI procedure were studied. Pathologic diagnosis, the size of the specimen, the length of the procedure, postoperative complications, patient satisfaction, and the cost of the ABBI procedure were analyzed.

RESULTS: One hundred twenty-seven of 139 patients (94.2%) underwent the ABBI procedure. Twelve patients (8.61%) required conversion to the needle localization procedure. Mammographically, 64 lesions revealed microcalcifications, 51 showed nodular densities, and 12 demonstrated both findings. Histologically, 21 lesions (16.5%) were malignant, whereas 106 were benign (83.5%). The mean operative time for the procedures was 62.5 minutes. Postoperatively 5 patients had local ecchymosis and 1 had a hematoma. The average cost per patient was found to be $1000, considerably less than for needle localization biopsy.

CONCLUSION: With proper patient selection the ABBI procedure has proved to be a valuable tool in the armamentarium of the breast surgeon. Its efficiency, accuracy, and patient acceptance have been well documented in our hands.