Therapeutic Mammotome excision of fibroadenomas

Abstract

Abstract Fibroadenomas are most common benign tumour of the breast, usually affecting pre-menopausalwomen. The traditional treatment aimed at symptomatic relief and confirmation of the lesion’s benign naturethrough open surgical excision and biopsy. The rise of ‘triple assessment’ in recent years has meant that adefinitive benign diagnosis is now generally possible without recourse to open biopsy. But patients would stillface undergoing open surgical excision for relief of symptoms. A third option is now available – that of percu-taneous vacuum-assisted excision under local anaesthetic. Performed in a similar fashion to conventional per-cutaneous needle biopsy, the procedure can normally be completed within 15min and offers quicker recoverytimes and better cosmetic outcome than traditional excision. Keywords: Benign breast tumours; Fibroadenomas; Mammotome; Percutaneous vacuum-assisted excision Focus On Correspondence to: Dr AJ Maxwell, Consultant Radiologist, Royal BoltonHospital. Tel: 01204 390387/010/397. E-mail: anothony.maxwell@rbh.nhs.ukReceived: 02/10/05Revised: 09/11/05Accepted: 10/11/05First published online 17/02/06BCO/485/2005/FO