Histopathological Analysis of Vacuum-Assisted Breast Biopsy (Journal Article)

By Jana Bebek; Nikolina Novak; Marina Dasovic; Eugen Divjak; Cedna Tomasovic-Loncaric; Boris Brkljacic; and Gordana Ivanac

ABSTRACT

Breast cancer is the second-most common cause of cancer-related deaths in women and can sometimes be detected on self-examinations before any symptoms appear. Mammography continues to be the gold standard in breast cancer screening as it can visualize lesions that appear as macrocalcifications (with or without a mass) that are nonpalpable on self-examinations. Breast calcifications are a common finding on screening mammograms and can be an early sign of breast cancer. To determine if breast calcifications are benign or malignant, a precise, targeted biopsy of the tissue, guided by the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS), may be performed to provide further critical diagnostic information. This histopathological analysis, combined with the mammographic images, can prevent patients from undergoing unnecessary procedures. This journal-article-based, continuing education course will review the decision-making process regarding biopsies after mammographic analysis using the BI-RADS system. Different breast biopsy procedures will be reviewed along with histopathological classifications, emphasizing the role of vacuum-assisted breast biopsy under stereotactic guidance. Ten complex cases, with images and histopathological analysis, will be presented and reviewed, which will highlight the critical diagnostic steps involved in clinical decision-making.

EDITORIAL NOTE: This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which has not been altered.

Original publication: Bebek J, Novak N, Dasovic M, et al. Histopathological analysis of vacuum-assisted breast biopsy in relation to microcalcification findings on mammography: a pictorial review. Biomedicines. 2025;13:737-756.