Breast Biopsies

February 10, 2011

Roughly 37 million women each year have a mammogram to check for signs of breast cancer, but a costly procedure to diagnose women with cancer after a suspicious mammogram is apparently being used too often. That’s according to a new University of Florida study that suggests breast biopsies should not be the only option to diagnose abnormalities in a mammogram.

Researchers say less invasive and less expensive needle biopsies should be considered more often as a safer alternative to surgical procedures for most women.

Dr. Stephen Grobmyer/UF surgeon: “Patients need to be aware that not every abnormality seen on an imaging study requires an operation. Patients should be aware that a needle biopsy in many cases is quite appropriate as an initial diagnostic maneuver.”

UF researchers say about 30 percent of women in Florida with suspicious mammograms have an operation to check for cancer, but that’s three times higher than national recommendations. Experts say a surgical breast biopsy often costs twice as much as a needle biopsy. A shorter recovery time and lower complication rates are also a benefit of needle biopsies compared with surgical biopsies.

Dr. Stephen Grobmyer/UF surgeon: “Most lesions that are being biopsied, about seven in 10, turn out to be benign. This is another reason we think needle biopsies are important, because most of these patients ultimately, if they have a needle biopsy and it is done properly, most of the people will not need a surgical procedure.”

Researchers say surgery can also interfere with potential treatments if you are diagnosed with cancer.