Magnetic resonance imaging-guided core needle biopsy and needle localized excision of occult breast lesions

Background: Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been reported to be twice as sensitive and three times more specific in detecting breast cancer. We report a series of MRI-guided stereotactic breast biopsies (SCNBB) and needle localized breast biopsies (NLBB) to evaluate MRI as a localization tool. Methods: Forty-one breast lesions were identified in 39 patients who subsequently had SCNBB or NLBB. Suspicious areas of enhancement were stereotactically biopsied with 16-G core biopsy needles or localized with 22-G wires for excision under laser guidance. Results: Forty-one breast lesions were identified from 1,292 breast MRIs. SCNBB identified three malignancies and two areas of atypia. Two additional cancers were found after NLBB. In patients having NLBB alone, five cancers and two areas of atypia were identified. Conclusions: In this initial series, breast MRI-guided SCNBB and NLBB were valuable tools in the management of patients with suspicious abnormalities seen only on MRI.