Comparison of the diagnostic accuracy of a vacuum-assisted percutaneous intact specimen sampling device to a vacuum-assisted core needle sampling device for breast biopsy: initial experience.

The objective of this research was to determine whether biopsy of the breast using a percutaneous intact specimen sampling device influences the underestimation rate of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) compared to a vacuum-assisted core needle biopsy (VACNB) device. This study was a retrospective comparison of two series of 800 consecutive patients that underwent stereotactic biopsy of the breast for mammographic lesions presenting as microcalcifications classified by our institution as Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) 4 or 5. In the first series of patients (n = 800), a VACNB device was used; in the second series (n = 800), a vacuum-assisted percutaneous intact specimen biopsy (VAPIB) device was used.

Intraoperative pathologic consultation. An audit of 1,000 recent consecutive cases.

In order to assess the accuracy of the intraoperative consultation, or "frozen section," a retrospective review of 1,000 consecutive intraoperative consultations was performed. We present these data as a quality assurance assessment and as an update to a body of older literature examining the accuracy of the frozen section. The indications for intraoperative consultation and types of specimen submitted have changed in recent years, and these changes are related to the results in the present study.