Purpose: To compare the accuracy of wire and carbon localization in stereotactically localized open breast biopsy.
Patients and methods: From June 1995 to December 1997, a total of 725 stereotactic wire or carbon dye localizations were performed in 698 female patients. Success of localization was evaluated either by a malignant histopathological diagnosis or by mammographic follow-up. A lesion was considered to be missed if it could be still seen on follow-up mammography.
Results: In 703 of 725 cases, the success of localization could be evaluated with 427 (61 %) lesions localized with a wire and 276 (39 %) with carbon. Seven (1 %) out of 703 lesions were missed at open biopsy. Three lesions of these had been localized with wire and three lesions with carbon. The miss rates were 0.9 % and 1.1 %, respectively (p = 1.0).
Conclusion: Both wire and carbon localization are reliable and accurate in the localization of non-palpable breast lesions. Concerning efficiency and costs, carbon dye seems to offer a promising compromise.