Ultrasound Guided Core Needle Biopsy of Breast Lesions with Radio-Pathological Concordance / Discordance: A Medical Audit of Tertiary Care Breast Imaging Unit

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the results of core needle biopsies, its effectiveness in diagnosing breast cancers and to improve the standards of clinical care and efficient utilization of resources.

Methodology: A retrospective audit of core needle biopsy of breast lesions was done in Dow Institute of Radiology of Dow University of Health Sciences, OJHA campus with radiopathological concordance / discordance.  All the patients who came for diagnostic ultrasound guided core needle biopsies of breast lesions from January 2021 till December 2021 were included in the study. Patients who were lost to follow up or with non-availability of laboratory data were excluded.

Results: Overall concordant results were found in 415 patients (91.6%). Of these 128 (90.1%) were concordant benign and 287 (92.2%) were concordant malignant. Discordant results were found in 38 patients (8.2%) with 24 discordant benign (7.7%) and 14 (9.85%) discordant malignant respectively.

Conclusion: Core needle biopsy is an effective and it is less invasive and cost effective than excisional or incisional biopsy for diagnosis.