Breast cancer seeding the needle tract after tru-cut needle biopsy (TCNB): Case report and literature review
Keywords:
breast cancer, needle tract seeding, Tru-Cut needle biopsy (TCNB)Abstract
Needle tract seeding occurs when tumor cells are inadvertently planted along the path of a needle during biopsy. It’s a possible occurrence related to breast needle biopsy. Although the clinical significance of such dissemination is statistically not significant, theoretical risk factor to develop recorrent locoregional disease, following needle biopsy of suspicious lesions, is recognized. This study reports a right breast cancer seeding the needle tract case, after Tru-Cut needle biopsy (TCNB).
References
1. Cusick JD, Dotan J, Jaecks RD, Boyle Jr WT. The role of Tru-Cut needle biopsy in the diagnosis of carcinoma of the breast. Surg Gynecol Obstet. 1990 May;170(5):407-10.
2. Minkowitz S, Moskowitz R, Khafif RA, Alderete MN. TRU-CUT needle biopsy of the breast. An analysis of its specificity and sensitivity. Cancer. 1986 Jan 15;57(2):320-3. doi: 10.1002/1097-0142(19860115)57:2<320::aid-cncr2820570221>3.0.co;2-c.
3. Pradhan M, Mandal A, Biswas BK, Hazra A, Kumar D. The Role of Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology in the Evaluation of Breast Lumps. Cureus. 2024 Oct 3;16(10):e70748. doi: 10.7759/cureus.70748. eCollection 2024 Oct.
4. Szpor J, Witczak K, Storman M, et al. Breast carcinoma grading on core needle biopsy - to grade or not to grade? Pol J Pathol. 2023;74(3):203-210. doi: 10.5114/pjp.2023.132225.
5. Sopik V, Narod SA. The relationship between tumour size, nodal status and distant metastases: on the origins of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2018 Aug;170(3):647-656. doi: 10.1007/s10549-018-4796-9.
6. Diaz LK, Wiley EL, Venta LA. Are malignant cells displaced by large-gauge needle core biopsy of the breast? AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1999 Nov;173(5):1303-13. doi: 10.2214/ajr.173.5.10541110.
7. Schirrmacher V. Cancer metastasis: experimental approaches, theoretical concepts, and impacts for treatment strategies. Adv Cancer Res. 1985:43:1-73. doi: 10.1016/s0065-230x(08)60942-2.
8. Bruening W, Fontanarosa J, Tipton K, Treadwell JR, Launders J, Schoelles K. Systematic review: comparative effectiveness of core-needle and open surgical biopsy to diagnose breast lesions. Ann Intern Med. 2010 Feb 16;152(4):238-46. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-152-1-201001050-00190.
9. Gutwein LG, Ang DN, Liu H, et al. Utilization of minimally invasive breast biopsy for the evaluation of suspicious breast lesions. Am J Surg. 2011 Aug;202(2):127-32. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2010.09.005.
10. National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. Optimal Resources for Breast Cancer. 2024 Standards. NAPBC Guideline. Available online: https://accreditation.facs.org/accreditationdocuments/NAPBC/Standards/Optimal_Resources_for_Breast_ Care_2024.pdf.
11. American Society of Breast Surgeons. Consensus Guideline on Image-Guided Percutaneous Biopsy of Palpable and Nonpalpable Breast Lesions. Available online: https://www.breastsurgeons.org/docs/statements/Consensus-Guideline-on-Image-GuidedPercutaneous-Biopsy-of-Palpable-and-Nonpalpable-Breast-Lesions.pdf.
12. Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question. Commission on Cancer Choosing Wisely: An Initiative of the ABMI Foundation. Available online: https://www.facs.org/media/wegncq3f/coclist.pdf.
13. Holmes D, Colfry A, Czerniecki B, et al. Performance and Practice Guideline for the Use of Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy in the Management of Breast Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol. 2015 Oct;22(10):3184-90. doi: 10.1245/s10434-015-4753-3.
14. Sennerstam RB, Franzén BSH, Wiksell HOT, Auer GU. Core-needle biopsy of breast cancer is associated with a higher rate of distant metastases 5 to 15 years after diagnosis than FNA biopsy. Cancer Cytopathol. 2017 Oct;125(10):748-756. doi: 10.1002/cncy.21909.
15. Uematsu T, Kasami M. Risk of needle tract seeding of breast cancer: cytological results derived from core wash material. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2008 Jul;110(1):51-5. doi: 10.1007/s10549-007-9685-6.
16. Hoorntje LE, Schipper MEI, Kaya A, Verkooijen HM, Klinkenbijl JG, Borel Rinkes IHM. Tumour cell displacement after 14G breast biopsy. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2004 Jun;30(5):520-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ejso.2004.03.001.
17. Uematsu T, Kasami M. Risk of needle tract seeding of breast cancer: cytological results derived from core wash material. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2008 Jul;110(1):51-5. doi: 10.1007/s10549-007-9685-6.
18. Holmes DR. Reducing the Risk of Needle Tract Seeding or Tumor Cell Dissemination during Needle Biopsy Procedures. Cancers (Basel). 2024 Jan 11;16(2):317. doi: 10.3390/cancers16020317.
19. Yoneyama K, Nakagawa M, Hara A. Local recurrence of breast cancer caused by core needle biopsy: Case report and review of the literature. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2020:72:318-321. doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2020.06.013.
20. Youngson BJ, Cranor M, Rosen PP. Epithelial displacement in surgical breast specimens following needling procedures. Am J Surg Pathol. 1994 Sep;18(9):896-903. doi: 10.1097/00000478-199409000-00004.
21. Stolier A, Skinner J, Levine EA. A prospective study of seeding of the skin after core biopsy of the breast. Am J Surg. 2000 Aug;180(2):104-7. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9610(00)00425-6.
22. Liberman L, Vuolo M, Dershaw DD, et al. Epithelial displacement after stereotactic 11-gauge directional vacuum-assisted breast biopsy. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1999 Mar;172(3):677-81. doi: 10.2214/ajr.172.3.10063859.
23. Michalopoulos NV, Zagouri F, Sergentanis TN, et al. Needle Tract Seeding after Vacuum-Assisted Breast Biopsy. Acta Radiologica 2008 May; 49(3):267-70. doi:10.1080/02841850701775030.
24. Wiksell H, Schässburger KU, Janicijevic M, et al. Prevention of tumour cell dissemination in diagnostic needle procedures. Br J Cancer. 2010 Nov 23;103(11):1706-9. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6605964.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Federica Cigliano, Annalisa Gorgoglione, Vincenza Talamo, Filomena Cinelli, Martina Pia Pagliara, Luca Pazienza, Giuseppe Guglielmi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Transfer of Copyright and Permission to Reproduce Parts of Published Papers.
Authors retain the copyright for their published work. No formal permission will be required to reproduce parts (tables or illustrations) of published papers, provided the source is quoted appropriately and reproduction has no commercial intent. Reproductions with commercial intent will require written permission and payment of royalties.
How to Cite
