Breast Biopsies—Lesion Characteristics, Biopsy Approach, and Outcomes

Introduction: To evaluate characteristics of ultrasound-detected breast lesions, applied biopsy parameters and their outcomes.

Method(s): All patients with ultrasound-detected breast lesions/nodules who were subsequently biopsied were included in a period of 5 years. Lesion characteristics (size, shape), biopsy parameters of needle size (14, 16, 18, and 22G), distance of lesion from skin site (along oblique course of needle; less or more than 2 cm deep), and number of passes (less or more than 3) by single operator were noted.

Result(s): Out of 216 patients, 208 (96.3%) were females, and more than half (n = 118, 54.6%) were above 40 years. More than two-thirds were wider than taller, and more than half 3 cm in size. These and deeper lesions were associated with malignancy, while superficial were mostly benign.

Conclusion(s): Deeper, larger (than 3 cm), and taller than wider shaped lesions may be biopsied with 14 or 16G needles as they may turn out malignant.

Publication History

Article published online:
09 February 2023