Punch biopsy: a useful adjunct in a rapid diagnosis breast clinic

Abstract

Introduction: Triple assessment of breast lesions usually involves the use of core biopsy (CB) or fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Punch Biopsy (PB) is a technique widely used by dermatologists and can be used in superficial breast lesions with dermal involvement. We studied the utilization of PB in a rapid diagnosis breast clinic.

Method: We reviewed patients who underwent a PB over a seven and a half-year period from December 2001 to May 2009. The indications for biopsy and the contribution of PB to final diagnosis were studied.

Results: The commonest indications were breast lump with skin involvement or ulceration (n = 27), suspected Paget's disease (n = 25), discolouration of breast skin (n = 23), and nodules in the breast skin or surgical scar (n = 18). Final diagnosis was benign in 80 patients and malignant in 20. In 74 patients with benign and 7 patients with malignant diagnoses, PB was the only source of histological diagnosis.

Conclusion: PB is a valuable adjunct to conventional methods of tissue diagnosis such as CB and FNAC in both benign and malignant breast lesions.