Purpose: To evaluate the utility of stereotaxic core biopsy (SCB) in diagnosing recurrent carcinoma after breast-conserving therapy (BCT).
Materials and methods: Of 316 patients evaluated with SCB, 17 (5%) had nonpalpable lesions in breasts previously treated with BCT. Surgical correlation was obtained in 14 patients. SCBs were performed with digital stereotaxic equipment, with patients prone.
Results: Carcinoma detected at SCB in 11 (79%) of 14 patients included infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IFDC) in five, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in five, and infiltrating lobular carcinoma (ILC) in one. Surgical histopathologic findings agreed with core biopsy findings in 10 of these patients. In one patient with two SCB-proved foci of IFDC, one IFDC was identified at mastectomy. In two (14%) patients, SCB revealed atypical ductal hyperplasia; however, DCIS was found at surgical biopsy. In one patient, the SCB finding of fat necrosis was confirmed at surgical biopsy.
Conclusion: These data suggest that SCB may be useful in diagnosing recurrent carcinoma in the conservatively treated breast.