A manipulator system for 14‐gauge large core breast biopsies inside a high‐field whole‐body MR scanner

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate a robotic manipulator system for MR-guided breast biopsies inside a 1.5 T whole-body magnet. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients with suspicious breast lesions (diameter 18.6 +/- 12 mm) underwent biopsy. Patients with malignant findings underwent surgery afterwards and the histologic findings between biopsy and surgery were correlated. RESULTS: In five patients biopsy findings were histopathologically confirmed following open surgery. One tubular carcinoma was missed; one invasive cancer was underestimated. Seven patients with benign findings are still in the follow-up period. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates the feasibility to perform breast biopsies inside the magnet of a whole-body MR scanner by using a manipulator system.