Angela Sie MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Steven David Frankel MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Larry K. Killebrew MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Stephen M. Keller MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Carrie Christina Morrison MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

William R. Poller MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Farhad Minocher Contractor MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kathy J. Schilling MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Ada Patricia Romilly MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Carol A. Vicinanza-Adami MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

et al, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Purpose: The en-bloc® Biopsy System, an FDA approved, vacuum-assisted, percutaneous biopsy device, removes a single, intact specimen of breast tissue percutaneously and under image guidance. A previous single-center study has indicated that, compared to vacuum-assisted core (i.e. Mammotome® core needle) procedures, the en-bloc® procedure produced significantly fewer surgical upgrades from ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) to infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) and trended toward fewer upgrades from atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) to either DCIS or IDC. The purpose of this study is to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the en-bloc® to current technology (i.e. Mammotome® core needle).

Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of the biopsy records from six facilities and nine physicians of biopsy and final pathology results on a sequential series of patients whose biopsies were either performed using a Mammotome® core needle biopsy method (n = 431) or en-bloc® Biopsy System (n = 433). Initial diagnoses were made from the histopathological examination of the tissue retrieved at biopsy. Patients with non-benign findings were referred for surgical excision, with a second diagnosis made from histopathological analysis of that specimen.

Results: When compared to the surgical tissue diagnosis, fewer en-bloc® DCIS cases (2/50 (4.0%)) were upgraded to IDC as compared to the Mammotome® biopsy samples (7/41 (17.1%)). In addition, en-bloc® procedures resulted in fewer upgrades from ADH to either DCIS or IDC (2/17 (11.8%)) as compared to Mammotome® (7/18 (38.9%)).

Conclusion: The en-bloc® Biopsy System is an accurate means of obtaining specimens of breast tissue for histopathological analysis. In addition, the en-bloc® biopsies trended toward fewer upgrades at surgery, as compared with the 11g Mammotome®.

L.K.K.: Dr. Larry Killebrew is a shareholder in the Neothermia Corporation.

Sie, A, Frankel, S, Killebrew, L, Keller, S, Morrison, C, Poller, W, Contractor, F, Schilling, K, Romilly, A, Vicinanza-Adami, C, et al, , Comparison of the Diagnostic Accuracy of a Vacuum-assisted Percutaneous Intact Specimen Sampling Device to 11g Vacuum-assisted Core Procedures for Biopsy of Breast Cancer: A Multi-Center Experience.  Radiological Society of North America 2004 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2004 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2004/4405243.html