Radiology, Vol 169, 629-630, Copyright © 1988 by Radiological Society of North America
Cancellation of preoperative breast localization procedures: analysis of 53 cases
JE Meyer, MR Sonnenfeld, RA Greenes and PC Stomper
Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115.
Among 603 patients scheduled for a breast biopsy at the authors'
institution in 1987, the biopsy was canceled on the day of the procedure in
53 (8.8%). All had been referred from other facilities. An analysis of the
original mammograms and the additional imaging procedures performed is
presented. The reasons for termination of the planned biopsies include (a)
no mass present (n = 22), (b) aspiration of a mass (n = 13), (c) skin
calcifications (n = 9), (d) random calcifications (n = 4), (e) skin
artifacts (n = 3), and (f) other (n = 2). Practicing radiologists should
adapt rigid criteria for biopsy recommendation and propose radiographic
follow-up for low-suspicion abnormalities detected.
