Nonmalignant papillary lesions of the breast at US-guided directional vacuum-assisted removal: a preliminary report

This study was conducted to assess the accuracy of US-guided directional vacuum-assisted removal (US-DVAR) in evaluating nonmalignant papillary breast lesions. This retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board at our institution; patient consent was not required. We reviewed the clinical and pathology findings from a total of 39 papillary lesions diagnosed at vacuum-assisted removal in 37 patients (age range, 26–60 years; mean age, 44.5 years). Over the follow-up period, we evaluated whether any histologic upgrade occurred and whether or not residual lesions were detected on follow-up imaging. US-DVAR of 39 lesions yielded tissue that was classified as benign in 35 and atypical in 4. Of the 35 lesions that were diagnosed as histologically benign at US-DVAR, 2 were surgically excised. Both of them yielded benign results. Of the 33 benign lesions that were not surgically excised, 28 (85%) were not seen at radiographic follow-up. Of the four lesions diagnosed as atypical at US-DVAR that were surgically excised, all the four were benign. None proved to be malignant. The upgrade rate was 0.0% (95% confidence interval, 0–9%). Among our patients, diagnosis by US-DVAR of benign papillary lesions proved to be accurate, and benign papillary lesions at US-DVAR did not need to be surgically excised for accurate diagnosis.