Vacuum-Biopsy Procedure Eliminates Most Small Breast Fibroadenomas CHICAGO, IL -- November 29, 2001 Fibroadenomas, the most common form of breast tumor and the most common reason for performing breast biopsies, can be completely eradicated with an ultrasound guided vacuum-assisted biopsy. This finding was reported at the 87th scientific assembly and annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. During a one-year period, Dr. Annette Blank, an attending physician at Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv, Israel, recruited 30 women with 34 breast lesions into the study to determine if the biopsy procedure could eliminate the fibroadenomas. The women in the study were aged 19 to 52, with the mean age of 29. About 10 percent of women develop fibroadenomas, she said, and 50 percent of all biopsies are performed to determine the status of the lesions which are not malignant. The peak incidence of the fibroadenoma occurrence is during the 20s and 30s. The fibroadenomas rarely grow larger than 3 centimeters and 15 percent of the tumors will naturally regress. She reported that all 20 fibroadenomas that were less than 1.5 centimeters in diameter were removed using the ultrasound guided biopsy techniques. Of the 11 fibroadenomas that were 1.5 to 2 centimeters in diameter, eight were totally removed. None of the three lesions greater than 2 centimeters could be completely removed with the device. Most frequently, the reason for curtailing the procedure was unacceptable bleeding, although those bleeds were managed conservatively. [11/30/2001; Doctor's Guide] Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.