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Most breast biopsy specimens are negative for malignancy. Open surgical biopsy procedures can be associated with complications, but less-invasive hollow-core–needle procedures could be less accurate. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality commissioned a systematic review to compare these two methods.
Only one study published since 1990 was available to evaluate the accuracy of open surgical biopsy. Open biopsy missed 1% to 2% of true-positive cases (as determined by follow-up). The sensitivity of stereotactic or ultrasonographic automated-gun or vacuum-assisted core-needle biopsy was 97% to 99%, based on results of 78 studies. The quality of the evidence overall was rated as low when the researchers considered validity, precision, co…