Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy for Breast Tumors: Needle Guide versus Freehand Technique

Abstract

Background We retrospectively studied whether a needle guide is necessary when performing ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (US-FNAB) in patients with breast tumors. Methods A total of 47 patients (50 lesions) with breast tumors underwent US-FNAB with a needle guide and 127 patients (143 lesions) underwent the procedure without a needle guide (freehand biopsy). The diagnoses obtained by US-FNAB were compared with the surgical findings. Results The sensitivity of freehand biopsy for tumors <3 cm in diameter was significantly higher than that of the needle guide technique. Conclusions We recommend performing US-FNAB without a needle guide (freehand biopsy) in order to maximize the correct preoperative diagnosis rate, especially in patients with tumors <3 cm in diameter.