Ultrasound-guided core biopsy of breast lesions in Ibadan: Our initial experience

Background and Objectives: Ultrasound-guided core needle or  tru-cut biopsy is a new concept in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in developing countries, including Nigeria. A tru-cut biopsy is less invasive surgery, replacing diagnostic surgical biopsies in many institutions. It has a known sensitivity of 94-100%, whether performed with ultrasound or stereotactic guidance. The technique is reliable, simple, reproducible, and relatively cheap. Aims: This is a premier report of ultrasound- guided core biopsy of the breast in Nigeria. This study will evaluate the sampling adequacy and diagnostic accuracy of sonomammographic-guided tru-cut biopsies in determining the nature of a breast lump sent for histopathological analysis. Materials and Methods: A prospective study involving 40 women with clinical suspicion of breast cancer and/or Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) category 3-5 referred for breast imaging at the Department of Radiology of the University College Hospital, Ibadan. Core biopsy was performed with a manual BARD Magnum™ gun, a General Electric GE Logiq P5 ultrasound unit with a high frequency linear transducer. Statistical Package for social sciences [SPSS] Software version 17.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Forty core needle biopsies (CNB) were performed on palpable masses. Histopathology confirmed cancer in 24 (60%), while 10 (25%) were benign. Invasive ductal carcinoma accounted for 88% of cancers. Sensitivity and specificity of the core biopsies was found to be 100% and 80%, respectively. Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided biopsy for breast lesion assessment in our center shows high accuracy in determining the nature of a breast lump. Its routine use in countries with limited resources is recommended.