Our center performs targeted breast biopsies with the Robotic Hologic Affrim Breast Biopsy Guidance System.

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, with different molecular forms. Achieving optimal treatment depends on designing an individualized therapeutic approach for each patient according to the molecular type of cancer and the stage of the disease. In this context and in accordance with international guidelines, it is desirable to identify the pathology of the suspicious lesions preoperatively, by performing percutaneous image-guided biopsies.

It is also important to ensure that a suspicious lesion requires surgical excision since suspicious findings on imaging studies do not always correspond to malignancy. 80% of the lesions turn out to be benign and require only regular follow-up (mainly this involves microcalcifications).

These are fast, safe and reliable, minimally invasive operations, performed with the guidance of ultrasound, stereotactic or MRI guidance, depending on the imaging type of the suspected lesion (tumor processes, confluent microcalcifications or areas of suspected paramagnetic uptake).

Our center also has the unique robotic Affirm Hologic breast biopsy system. The benefits are multiple, both for the patient and for the treating physician. Preoperative diagnosis provides valuable information in cases where rapid biopsy has limitations, for example in suspected microcalcifications.

It allows the safe characterization of lesions, facilitating the correct planning of a surgical approach, for example in cases of multifocality, which confirms the need for mastectomy. Preoperative confirmation of malignancy allows proper surgical management of the axilla, with the typical sampling of the sentinel lymph node in case of clinically and radiologically negative axilla.

Finally, in special patient subcategories (triple negative cancers, cancer with amplified-HER2) the necessary information about the molecular form of the lesion is provided, in order to make the appropriate neo-adjuvant treatment preoperatively.

In conclusion, image-guided transdermal breast biopsies play a key role in the up-to-date management of breast cancer, providing important information for the individualized therapeutic approach, but also towards avoiding an unnecessary surgery in cases of negative results.