OBJECTIVETo study the incidence of implantation metastasis of breast cancer in vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) needle tract in Chinese patients and evaluate the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on needle tract metastasis following VABB.

METHODSThe breast cancer patients with established diagnosis by VABB were divided into two groups to receive open surgery or neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to open surgery. The incidence of needle tract metastasis, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSA total of 214 patients were enrolled, among whom 94 directly underwent surgeries and 120 had neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery. The two groups showed no significant differences in the incidence of needle tract metastasis (3.2% vs 0.8%, P=0.206), DFS (P=0.221), or OS (P=0.531).

CONCLUSIONThe incidence of needle tract metastasis is low after VABB, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy does not increase this risk.

Biopsy, Needle ; methods ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Needles ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Neoplasms, Second Primary ; drug therapy ; Vacuum