Enhancing diagnostic precision: comparative analysis of MR-guided breast biopsies performed in two centres

Abstract

PurposeBreast lesions that remain elusive in traditional imaging techniques such as ultrasound and mammography pose a diagnostic challenge. In such cases, magnetic resonance (MR)-guided breast biopsy emerges as a crucial tool for accurate histopathological verification. This article presents a comparative study conducted at 2 centres, exploring the results of MR-guided breast biopsies performed by experienced radiologists, based on inside and external referrals.Material and methodsThe study involved 228 patients, 120 of whom underwent biopsies at Centre 1, where the same radiologist performed both the qualification and biopsy. The remaining 108 patients were biopsied at Centre 2, based on referrals from different institutions. Uniform examination protocols were adopted at both centres, and all biopsies underwent histopathological verification.ResultsThe distribution of lesion types was found to be independent of the apparatus used for biopsies (<i>p</i> = 0.759). Interestingly, Centre 1 exhibited a higher prevalence of infiltrating carcinomas compared to Centre 2 (<i>p</i> = 0.12). Furthermore, the analysis demonstrated a significant variance in the nature of the lesions in relation to breast structure and biopsy centre (<i>p</i> < 0.001).ConclusionsMR-guided breast biopsy serves as a remarkable tool for verifying lesions that evade detection through conventional imaging methods and physical examinations. The study findings underscore the crucial role of radio­logist experience in determining the efficacy of MR-guided breast biopsies.