Surgical breast biopsies may not be as overused as previously thought, according to a study in the February issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology.
Concern about overuse of surgical breast biopsy comes from the fact that these procedures are more invasive than needle biopsies, requiring an incision and the use of general anesthesia, according to Dr. David C. Levin, from Thomas Jefferson University, and colleagues (JACR, February 2012, Vol. 9:2, pp. 137-140).
Previous studies have suggested that surgery is used for 30% of breast biopsies, according to the authors. Levin and colleagues conducted the study to determine whether this number has been overstated.
Using nationwide Medicare Part B databases for 2004 to 2009, Levin's team determined trends in the use of codes for five different types of breast biopsies, including needle biopsy with imaging, needle biopsy without imaging, and surgical biopsy. The group found that surgical breast biopsy rates are somewhere between 2% and 18% -- probably about 11%.
"Given that the recommended rate [for surgical breast biopsy] is 10%, it seems that surgeons and radiologists are collaborating well and that surgical breast biopsy is not being overused," Levin said.
