Evaluation of ultrasound-guided 8-gauge vacuum-assisted excision system for the removal of US-detectable breast lesions

aim: to assess the ability of ultrasound (US)-guided vacuum-assisted breast excision (VAE) to remove breast Imaging reporting and data system (BI-RADS) =3 breast lesions in order to analyze US features most frequently associated with complete excision. materials and methods: a total of 266 BIRADS =3 lesions without microcalcifications underwent USVAE. US-VAE and gold standard pathological results were compared. US features of lesions were analyzed. results: the complete excision rate was 93.61%; the VAE agreement rate was 99.62%. circumscribed margins, regular shape, parallel orientation, and the absence of posterior features were favorable US features associated with complete excision. lesions completely excised were: BI-RADS 3 =21.10 mm and BI-RADS 4 =18.70 mm with one unfavorable US characteristic, and BIRADS 4 lesions =13.5 mm with two unfavorable US features hindered complete removal. two atypical ductal hyperplasias (<10 mm, one unfavorable feature) and eight ductal carcinomas in situ (=8.7 mm, one/two unfavorable features) were completely removed. conclusion: US-VAE is highly accurate for diagnostic purpose and, in some cases, highly successful for complete lesion excision. this success also depends on the US characteristics and size of the lesion.