Vacuum-assisted Breast Biopsy

This technical note assesses the scientific evidence on the diagnostic performance of the VAB in relation to that of conventional core needle biopsy (CNB). It also examines the economic aspects and the quality-assurance measures required to guarantee that core needle biopsies yield maximum benefits while avoiding errors and complications.

The report concludes that vacuum-assisted breast biopsy should not replace conventional core needle biopsy for all biopsies of non-palpable breast abnormalities. Nevertheless, it would be important for an expert committee to identify the clinical indications that may justify the use and higher cost of the VAB. In terms of diagnostic performance, the differences between the two biopsy techniques are a less critical factor than the presence of a multidisciplinary team of experts capable of minimizing the number of cancer cases missed by either one or the other technique. That is why all core needle biopsies of non-palpable lesions should be performed only in centres that have achieved a high level of expertise in diagnosing breast abnormalities and that have multidisciplinary teams collaborating closely to assess the cases and to review their diagnostic performance in the use of these core needle biopsy techniques.