Ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsy in the diagnosis of cancer recurrence at the surgical scar: a report of three cases
Article Category: Case report
Published Online: Feb 08, 2022
Page range: 57 - 63
Received: Aug 21, 2021
Accepted: Nov 17, 2021
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15557/JoU.2022.0010
Keywords
© 2022 Laila Abu Tahoun, Bayan Maraqa, published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Aim of the study
Ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy is being increasingly used in the diagnosis of breast lesions. The advantages of vacuum-assisted biopsy over core needle biopsy include large sample and higher diagnostic accuracy. Indications for ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy include suspicious calcifications visible on ultrasound, architectural distortion, and very subtle or insinuating lesions.
Case description
We present three patients treated for breast cancer with breast-conserving surgery who developed suspicious findings on mammogram and MRI at or near the surgical scar. The findings were subtle, small, or atypical lesions on ultrasound. Ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy was performed, and recurrence was diagnosed. The technique was advantageous due to real-time imaging, ability to control the path of the needle, obtaining multiple cores with a single skin puncture and single pass, supine position, no radiation, and no IV contrast.
Conclusions
Ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy should be considered in cases involving multiple suspicious findings at or near the surgical scar, with subtle or atypical sonographic correlates. Vacuum-assisted biopsy is indicated; yet ultrasound guidance is more comfortable, no radiation and no contrast.