Large-core needle biopsy of nonpalpable breast cancers. The impact on subsequent surgical excisions.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the subsequent surgical therapy for women with nonpalpable breast cancers diagnosed by large-core needle biopsy (LCNB) vs those diagnosed by surgical excision after wire localization.

DESIGN: Retrospective review of cases and results.

SETTING: Secondary referred care.

PATIENTS: A total of 677 women diagnosed as having breast cancer by LCNB (n = 67) or by surgical excision after wire localization (n = 610).

RESULTS: Women in the LCNB group underwent an average of 1.25 surgical procedures and women whose breast cancers were diagnosed by surgical excision after preoperative wire localization underwent an average of 2.01 surgical procedures (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS: Large-core needle biopsy decreases the number of surgical procedures in women diagnosed as having nonpalpable breast cancers. Increased implementation of this technique will substantially decrease the costs of surgical therapy in these patients.