Image-guided breast tissue sampling has become an acceptable alternative to open surgical biopsy for nonpalpable lesions. Advantages of minimally invasive core biopsy compared to open surgical biopsy include lower cost, lower complication rates, and less cosmetic deformity for patients. However, false-negative core biopsies can occur. Thus the imaging of a breast lesion and the histologic result of the core biopsy must be carefully correlated. This involves communication between radiology and pathology.
SLN biopsy allows a more sensitive evaluation of lymph nodes for metastatic cells. This has led to the increased identification of very small axillary metastases. While the new microstaging categories are not yet clearly associated with a significantly decreased OS or DFS in this series, they are associated with other poor prognostic factors and more local/regional and systemic therapy. Further analysis of the microstaging categories is needed.
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