Comparison of Two Types of Biopsy in Patients With Breast Lesions

OBJECTIVES: I. Compare the effect of low dose radioactive seed localized breast biopsy versus needle localized breast biopsy on operative time and tissue loss in patients with nonpalpable breast lesions. II. Compare the cost effectiveness of these diagnostic methods in these patients. III. Demonstrate that radioactive seed localization allows for elimination of specimen x-ray in these patients. IV. Demonstrate that radioactive seeds may be placed safely for 1-7 days prior to surgical removal in these patients. OUTLINE: This is a randomized study. Patients are randomized to one of two diagnostic arms. Arm I: Patients undergo radiographic placement of a radioactive seed (either iodine I 125 or palladium Pd 103) into the suspicious lesion. Patients then undergo surgery to remove the lesion along with the seed and a small margin of surrounding breast tissue followed 3 months later by a postoperative mammogram. Arm II: Patients undergo a needle localized breast biopsy with a specimen x-ray.