BACKGROUND: The Advanced Breast Biopsy Instrumentation (ABBI) System is designed to excise nonpalpable breast lesions under stereotactic control. We report our experience with special regard to the histological evaluation of margins.PATIENTS AND METHODS: Breast biopsies using the ABBI system were performed on 101 patients with microcalcifications. In histologically-proven breast cancer, a re-excision was performed.RESULTS: Malignant lesions were found in thirteen patients (3 CLIS, 5 DCIS, 5 invasive ductal carcinoma). The margins were positive in two specimens with DCIS. In subsequent lumpectomies one patient with invasive cancer had residual intraductal cancer. All the patients with DCIS had residual cancer, even those with negative margins of the ABBI-specimen. Only minor complications were observed with the ABBI procedure.CONCLUSION: The ABBI system is a safe, minimally invasive stereotactic breast biopsy technique. It saves open biopsies in atypical hyperplasia and CLIS. In cases of DCIS or invasive cancer re-excision is inevitable.
Adult Aged