Scientific Publications Database

Article Title: An evaluation of patient experience during percutaneous breast biopsy
Authors: Seely, Jean M.; Hill, Fraser; Peddle, Susan; Lau, Jackie
Journal: EUROPEAN RADIOLOGY Volume 27 Issue 11
Date of Publication:2017
Abstract:
Objective Percutaneous breast biopsy in a tertiary referral high volume breast centre: can we improve the patient experience?Purpose The study was performed to evaluate patient experience during ultrasound-guided (UGB) and vacuum-assisted stereotactic breast biopsy (SBB) and determine what factors could improve the patient experience.Methods Consecutive patients who underwent image guided breast biopsy from 01-05/30, 2015 were approached in a structured telephone interview to evaluate pain and bruising from the procedure. Three hundred and fifty-one patients were interviewed (116 SBB and 235 UGB). Information about the radiologist performing the biopsy, biopsy type, needle gauge, and number of cores was collected from the biopsy reports. Correlation was done using Spearman rank test.Results Average patient scores of pain with UGB and SBB were 2.3 and 3.1 (out of 10). There was a significant correlation between pain during SBB and physician experience (p = 0.013), and no correlation with pain during UGB (p > 0.05). No correlation was found between needle gauge and pain experienced during breast biopsy or between numbers of cores and pain (p > 0.05). Body position during SBB was mentioned to cause discomfort and pain in 28% of patients while during UGB was mentioned by 0.4% of patients.Conclusion SBB was inferior to UGB for patient experience, but years of radiologists' experience correlated with improved patient scores of pain for SBB.