OBJECTIVE: A 15-month review of all mammotome excision breast biopsies in the Medical City to evaluate our experience in excising benign breast lesions using this technique by taking into consideration the complications encountered and patient satisfaction regarding the procedure and the postoperative result.

METHODS: The study included all patients seen by two breast surgeons of the Medical City Breast Clinic from May 2007 to July 2008 with both palpable breast masses visible on ultrasound with a Breast Imaging Reporting a Data System (BIRADS) classification of 2-4. Women with lesions at high risk for malignancy were excluded from the study. Patient demographics were noted, lesions were classified according to BIRADS classification and data regarding the procedure, compilations incurred and patient satisfaction ratings were obtained.

RESULTS: One hundred nineteen patients with ages ranging from 17 to 72 years old underwent ultrasound guided mammotome excision at the TMC-Breast Clinic removing a total of 167 lesions. Majority (82%) of patients were premenopausal whereas 22 (18%) were postmenopausal. Ecchymosis (73%) was the most frequent complication during the procedure due to hematoma formation, pain and a skin nick that require suturing. Of the 25 patients who had a previous open biopsy, 23 (92%) preferred mammotome excision over open breast biopsy.

CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided mammotome excision is a safe and well-tolerated alternative to open excision biopsy for benign lesions of the breast.