A core breast biopsy diagnosis of invasive carcinoma allows for definitive surgical treatment planning

Background: We reviewed our image-guided core needle breast biopsy (IGCNBB) experience with patients diagnosed with invasive carcinoma (IC) to determine the accuracy of a core biopsy diagnosis of invasion and our ability to perform a single definitive cancer operation. Methods: All IGCNBBs between July 1993 and July 1997 were reviewed to identify patients diagnosed with IC. Data included initial surgical treatment, surgical pathology, and subsequent surgical treatment. Results: Of the 1,676 biopsies, invasive carcinoma was diagnosed in 208 with follow-up in 204 cases. Invasive carcinoma diagnosis was confirmed in 202 of 204 cases (99%). One hundred ninety-two patients had surgical treatment. Of these 192 patients, 173 (90%) could have achieved definitive surgical treatment with a single operation. Conclusions: An IGCNBB diagnosis of IC is accurate and allows for definitive breast cancer therapy. The potential impact on patient management is that a single operation can usually accomplish what traditionally has required at least two surgical procedures.