Diagnostic value of core needle biopsy before neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer

OBJECTIVE To assess the diagnostic value of core needle biopsy (CNB) before neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer. METHODS One hundred and nineteen breast cancer cases underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy in our hospital during the period from June, 2005 to January, 2007 were analyzed. CNB was carried out before starting chemotherapy. The hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides of CNB taken before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were reviewed independently by two pathologists, and the rate of consistency was verified. RESULTS Amongst the 119 cases studied, 110 cases were confirmed to be carcinoma, including 105 cases of invasive carcinoma and 5 cases of ductal carcinoma-in-situ. The rate of consistency was 97.22% (105/108). CONCLUSION CNB has important value in distinguishing benign from malignant lesions, as well as in confirming the diagnosis of invasive carcinoma before starting neoadjuvant chemotherapy.