Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Mammotome Vacuum-Assisted Biopsy for Qualitative Diagnosis of Breast Nodules with Diameter <5 cm.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided Mammotome (MMT) vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) for the qualitative diagnosis of breast nodules smaller than 5 cm in diameter.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data from 102 patients with breast nodules between November 2020 and November 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: the core needle biopsy (CNB) group (n=56) and the MMT-VAB group (n=46). The MMT-VAB group underwent biopsy using the Mammotome SCM23K breast biopsy system, while the CNB group used a disposable biopsy needle. Surgical pathology results were used as the gold standard. Sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the two methods in diagnosing benign and malignant breast nodules were compared. Complications, such as bleeding, hematoma, subcutaneous bruising, and skin damage, were recorded and analyzed.

Results: No significant differences in clinical data were observed between the CNB and MMT-VAB groups (P > .05). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the CNB group were 72.41%, 88.89%, and 80.36%, respectively, with a kappa value of 0.609. For the MMT-VAB group, sensitivity was 95.00%, specificity 92.31%, and accuracy 93.48%, with a kappa value of 0.868. The detection rate of malignant lesions was significantly higher in the MMT-VAB group (95.00%) compared to the CNB group (72.41%) (χ2=4.027, P = .045). No significant difference in complication rates was found between the two groups (χ2=3.608, P = .058).

Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided MMT-VAB offers higher diagnostic accuracy for breast nodules smaller than 5 cm compared to CNB, making it a valuable tool for early diagnosis. Future research should focus on enhancing MMT-VAB technology, understanding factors influencing diagnostic accuracy, expanding clinical applications, and evaluating long-term outcomes to support clinical decision-making.