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BREAST
The breast lesion excision system (BLES): a novel technique
in the diagnostic and therapeutic management of small
indeterminate breast lesions?
Steven D. Allen &Ashish Nerurkar &
Guidabaldo U. Querci Della Rovere
Received: 19 May 2010 / Revised: 29 September 2010 /Accepted: 8 October 2010
#European Society of Radiology 2011
Abstract
Objective To investigate whether the breast lesion excision
system (BLES) could render formal surgery unnecessary in
patients with small indeterminate breast lesions.
Methods Following review board ethical permission and
the consent of each patient, we aimed to perform a
complete excision biopsy, with a margin, of small indeter-
minate breast lesions that measure less than 1 cm. 76
patients with small BIRADS type 3 breast lesions under-
went a BLES biopsy. Mean radiological lesion size was
7.1 mm (range 2–10 mm).
Results 61 lesions had a final benign diagnosis, 6 of which
underwent subsequent surgery although only 1 showing
residual lesion. 15 lesions were malignant but with residual
tumour at re-excision present in only 5 cases.
Conclusion The BLES biopsy is an efficacious technique at
excising small indeterminate breast lesions with a complete
margin without the need for follow-up diagnostic surgery in
the majority.
Keywords Breast .Biopsy .Vacuum .Breast cancer .
Ultrasound
Introduction
Small solid breast lesions that are radiologically indetermi-
nate sometimes yield an indeterminate histopathological
assessment following a radiologically guided biopsy.
Although some centres may wish to just follow these
lesions up, increasingly these are being treated using
radiological wire localisation followed by open surgery in
the form of a wide local excision. However many of these
are subsequently benign on final surgical pathology. More
recently there have been alternative radiological manage-
ment to excise biopsy proven benign lesions, usually
fibroadenomas, in women wishing to have them removed
[1]. This has been with vacuum assisted biopsy devices,
such as the mammotome™(Johnson and Johnson Ethicon
Endo-Surgery Inc, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA) Encor™(C.R.
Bard, New York, USA) and Suros ATEC™(Suros Surgical
Systems Inc, Indianapolis, USA). The advantages of these
more minimally invasive approaches to many women will
undoubtedly make this technique increasingly popular[2–
5]. They can be performed usually in less than 30 min, with
only local anaesthetic and a minimal scar. Complication
rates are very low, and the procedures are extremely well
tolerated. These procedures are particularly suitable for
young women where risk of the lesion being non benign is
very low, and cosmesis is premium[2–5]. The obvious
limitation of this technique however, is that as it is only
able to remove lesions in a “piecemeal”fashion. Such
excisions are unable to provide an assessment of margins of
the excision, thus there is no way of determining
completeness of excision and whether any residual lesion
is left behind. While this may not be particularly relevant if
the lesions excised are fibroadenomas, or other such similar
benign lesions, it will however obviate the vacuum assisted
excision from being utilised for many other more “border-
S. D. Allen (*)
Department of Radiology, The Royal Marsden Hospital,
Downs Road,
Sutton, Surrey SM2 5PT, UK
e-mail: steven.allen@rmh.nhs.net
A. Nerurkar
Department of Histopathology, Royal Marsden Hospital,
Downs Road,
Sutton, Surrey SM2 5PT, UK
G. U. Q. Della Rovere
Department of Surgery, Royal Marsden Hospital,
Downs Road,
Sutton, Surrey SM2 5PT, UK
Eur Radiol
DOI 10.1007/s00330-010-2000-7
line”lesions where completeness of excision and a full
margin status is desirable or essential.
Since 2001 the breast lesion excision system (BLES,
Intact Medical, Framingham, USA), has been used as an
alternative large biopsy device to other vacuum assisted
biopsy devices in over 40,000 cases in the USA. It has been
well validated as a safe and efficacious biopsy procedure [6,
7]. It however has the unique feature of using radio-
frequency cautery to excise a small but whole sample in
one piece with intact architecture and clear margins, as a
swift local anaesthetic outpatient procedure. Our unit is the
first in the UK where the BLES has been in operation since
August 2007.
The purpose of our study is to evaluate the capability of
the BLES to perform a complete excision biopsy (with a
margin) of sub centimetre indeterminate small breast
lesions, in the attempt to obviate the need for a surgical
operation which a number of these would inevitably go on
to require. As approved by the National Institute of Health
and Clinical Excellence, this technique is thus in accor-
dance with UK national guidelines for the management of
such breast lesions [8]. We describe our findings in this
technical report.
Methods
Full local hospital institutional board and medical device
committee approval was obtained for this evaluation with
the BLES. Patients with sub centimetre breast lesions that
were considered radiologically indeterminate (BIRADs 3)
at a formal radiological led multidisciplinary meeting and/
or whom had a prior indeterminate core biopsy result
(pathologically a B3 result) were considered potentially
suitable to undergo a BLES excision biopsy rather than
proceed to routine diagnostic surgical biopsy. They were
then prospectively recruited and formally written consented
for this procedure.
The BLES consists of a biopsy “wand”, measuring
approximately 6 gauge, which is passed through a small skin
incision to the edge of the anaesthetized target under
ultrasound or stereotactic guidance. 5 metallic prongs (wand
size depending) with their tips connected by an extensible
cutting radiofrequency ring wire then pass from the wand and
envelop an area of tissue ranging from 10 to 20 mm in
diameter (depending on wand size) in only 8 s. The prongs
pass RF waves into surrounding tissue in order to excise and
allow haemostasis, but not to the extent of damaging the
sample (Fig. 1). Wand sizes vary, with the smallest having a
final capture diameter of 10 mm, the largest 20 mm. We
utilised 15 mm and 20 mm wands. Wherever possible we
utilised stereotaxis as the breast immobilisation was felt to
allow a more accurate acquisition.
BLES can be used in most patients and in many breast
lesions, but there are a number of clear contraindications.
Patients fitted with a cardiac pacemaker or other radio-
frequency devices are not suitable as the RF waves can
potentially interfere with or damage these devices. It is not
recommended for patients who are pregnant. As with other
large biopsy devices caution has to be given to anti-
coagulation and clotting disorders, but this procedure can
be considered as equivalent to a vacuum assisted biopsy in
its invasiveness and hence its protocol in this regard. Due to
the RF wave emanating from the metallic prongs during the
biopsy, and the risk of a thermal burn and possibly skin
necrosis, careful attention has to be paid to the location of
the lesion in relation to the skin surface and chest wall prior
to performing a BLES procedure. A number of deep and
superficial lesions as well as its use in the axilla are
excluded. Tolerance to the procedure was assessed by a
simple pain scoring questionnaire performed at least a week
later in a proportion of the cohort.
Image guidance can be using mammography or ultra-
sound with visualisation of the BLES using ultrasound
being straightforward, largely given its size (Fig. 2). What
can be more difficult is keeping in view the target lesion,
especially if it is more of a distortion than a mass, and
especially when surrounded by 20 ccs of local anaesthetic.
In addition the BLES, not being sharp ended, may push
away a mobile lesion, and this can be difficult to get into an
optimal position for an excision biopsy. Mammographic
guidance using stereotaxis although not “real-time”allows
immobilisation of breast and lesion and therefore possibly
offers more control in excision accuracy. The BLES is
activated at the touch of a button, the metallic prongs
protrude under direct vision and encircle the target lesion.
The whole wand with sample is then removed, and
following a specimen radiograph, the samples placed in
formalin and sent to histopathology. The specimens were
then inked on the external surfaces and sections were taken
perpendicular to the longest axis of the specimens. These
sections were serially embedded and examined using
standard pathological analysis as well as advanced patho-
logical evaluation such as immunohistochemistry which
was routinely performed.
Since August 2007, we have used this device in 92
patients with indeterminate (BIRADs 3) breast lesions. The
first 10 cases were excluded from meaningful analysis as
this was considered the minimal technical learning curve in
obtaining a clear excision biopsy. 6 further patients were
excluded from analysis as this was employed to obtain a
diagnostic sample in larger lesions rather than an excision
biopsy of a small lesion., 76 patients were included in the
final study group, which consisted of lesions that were
radiologically indeterminate (mammographically M3, or
ultrasonically U3), 55 of these also having a pathological
Eur Radiol
B3 biopsy result. 21 patients had no prior core biopsy
performed but opted for a BLES procedure when given all
the biopsy options following recall with an abnormal
mammogram. All cases included in this technical study
were performed by just one of the authors, S.A. The
radiological and pathological size was recorded for these
lesions as well as pathological diagnosis, follow-up surgical
excision and imaging. All pathology was performed by one
of two dedicated breast pathologists, both with more than
10 years of breast pathology experience.
Results
All procedures were well tolerated at the time of the
procedure, with moderate to minor discomfort experienced
in most patients for the 8 s of sample acquisition, but
passing very shortly afterwards in all cases. This was
formally evaluated with a simple pain scoring questionnaire
performed on follow up. Only one patient suffered more
than moderate discomfort during the procedure, and no
patients had more than mild discomfort in the time period
immediately following the 8 s of the acquisition. Median
pain score during the procedure was 3 (out of 10). Median
satisfaction score 1 week following the procedure was 9.5
(out of 10). Median satisfaction score for the scar was 9
(out of 10) [9]. One patient had a delayed haematoma but
this was managed conservatively. No post procedure wound
infections have yet occurred.
45 procedures were conducted with 20 mm wands, 31
procedures were conducted with 15 mm wands. 20
procedures were performed under ultrasound guidance, 56
using stereotaxis on a prone table. Mean largest radiological
lesion size was 7.1 mm (range 2–10 mm). Pathological
specimens all yielded pathology appropriate to the target
lesions, with minimal diathermy effects (<1 mm). Our
pathologists found the specimens far faster and easier to
analyse than equivalent sized vacuum assisted biopsy
Fig. 1 The breast lesion exci-
sion system (BLES) biopsy sys-
tem and wand. (a) The
equipment consists of an elec-
tronically operated base system
with attached lightweight hand-
held piece where removable
wands are inserted (arrow). (b)
Handheld component and re-
movable wand. (c) We have
measured the wands to be 6-
gauge in diameter and are
passed through typically a
10 mm skin incision to the edge
of the anaesthetized target under
ultrasound or stereotactic guid-
ance. 4 or 5 metallic prongs
(wand size depending) with their
tips connected by an extensible
cutting radiofrequency ring wire
then pass from the wand and
envelop an area of tissue in only
8 s. The prongs pass radiofre-
quency waves into surrounding
tissue in order to excise and
allow haemostasis, but not to the
extent of damaging the sample.
(d) Wand sizes vary, with basket
diameters ranging from 10 mm
to 20 mm. Sample sizes accord-
ingly fluctuate with the basket
sizes. The sample is removed
from the basket by cutting the
prongs with sharp scissors
Eur Radiol
specimens. This is in line with the USA experience [10].
Following fixation in formalin the samples measured
approximately one gram and had a mammographic mean
size of 21 mm (range 15–30 mm) × 10 mm (range 6–
18 mm) × 9 mm (range 5–12 mm). They showed minimal
diathermy artefact at the edge of the sections, which was
invariably less than 1 mm in depth and very rarely
interfered with the histological evaluation (Fig. 3). In these
sections, apart from the diagnosis, the size of the lesion was
measured accurately as well as the adequacy of the excision
in all cases [11].
Final pathology is summarised in Table 1. 61/76 (80%)
lesions had a final benign pathology. A total of 18 patients
underwent subsequent surgical re excision. 6 of these were
in benign/borderline lesions where margins were not
complete or residual lesion was seen on the mammogram
immediately following the procedure (5/11). Only one of
these had residual lesion, with the BLES biopsy site
identified in all cases. Tumour was seen at the biopsy margin
in 8/15 malignant cases. On surgical re-excision of biopsy
margins, residual disease was present in 5/12 patients (two
having more extensive intermediate grade DCIS that was
mammographically occult, another three with microscopic
foci of DCIS at a distance from the excision). At histopath-
ological analysis of the surgical resections, the BLES biopsy
cavities were identified in all cases.
The 7 low grade DCIS cases with excision margins
of >1 mm and no residual mammographic target were
all discussed at the unit multidisciplinary meeting with
regards proposed further management. Follow up sur-
gery was offered in all but in these cases the volume
and grade of disease was considered so low in risk that
follow up only was offered as an alternative option.
These cases were not considered of sufficient risk to
Fig. 3 A haematoxylin and eosin stained slide showing a radial scar
within a BLES excision biopsy specimen that was completely excised
pathologically. There were no atypical features
Fig. 2 Ultrasound guided BLES excision biopsy in a 51 year old
woman. (a) An indeterminate lesion measuring only 6 mm is
identified in the left breast. (b) A 15 mm diameter BLES is introduced
under direct visualisation following the routine anaesthetic protocol.
(c) Following excision, a specimen radiograph shows the lesion
centrally placed in the sample and radiologically excised. This was
confirmed as a benign papilloma, and also shown to be excised
pathologically
Eur Radiol
warrant radiotherapy. 3 patients subsequently elected to
decline a surgical margin excision when discussed at the
outpatient clinic. These 3 cases now have had at least
18 months mammographic follow up on their radiolog-
ically excised DCIS, and all are negative to date. The
four patients who did opt for margin excision surgery
hadnoresidualdisease.
Discussion
We can validate the USA experience that the BLES biopsy is a
well tolerated large biopsy procedure, with few complications.
If used equivalently to a vacuum device just to sample rather
than excise a breast lesion, then both advantages and
disadvantages have to be considered. Although potentially
slightly faster and in providing a single piece specimen for the
pathologist, it is undoubtedly easier and more accurate to
analyse in the laboratory, many lesions and the smaller breasts
will not be suitable for this procedure. In addition the skin
incision required to introduce the BLES is significantly larger
than most vacuum needles. There is also the need to be
extremely accurate with the needle positioning as essentially
once the BLES is deployed, no further adjustments can be
made to the acquisition. Indeed in our unit we have two other
vacuum assisted biopsy machines which we also regularly use
with great effect, with the different biopsy systems being
complementary in our practice in differing radiological
indications.
However in our study we have evaluated the capability of
the BLES to perform excision biopsies which more measure
the procedure alongside diagnostic surgery, where there are
potential morbidity and cost advantages. The results very
much represent what can be achieved during the early stages
of using this new technique specifically for radiological
excision biopsies. Although having practised on phantoms
prior to in vivo use, as with any new procedure, technical skill
for both the stereotactic and ultrasound guided approaches
will develop with experience. Allowing for this, the results are
promising, with the procedure well tolerated in all cases.
Aside from a single haematoma, there were no immediate or
delayed complications and the specimens were excellent for
pathological analysis. Although current wand sizes limit
excision of many lesions, benign lesions of a suitable size
and location were effectively managed in essentially a one-
stop outpatient procedure. The BLES has been shown to be an
efficacious tool at excising small benign breast lesions with a
clear margin. In the majority of cases no residual radiological
target has further confirmed this and in the cases requiring
follow-up surgery, the majority have shown little in the way of
residual lesion, even in malignant cases.
The NHS breast screening programme in the U.K. has
been shown to save many lives every year, although it is
not without its critics, particularly from the viewpoint
that many women are over treated for non life threaten-
ing diagnoses. From this year it is extending, now to be
routinely screening women from 47 to 73 and undoubt-
edly in order to detect cancers at an early stage a larger
number of women have to be recalled from screening
than will actually have the disease. This ultimately
resultsinmanybenigncore biopsies and sometimes
diagnostic surgical biopsies. It is in the latter area that in
our opinion breast screening particularly falls down
currentlyandwheretheBLESmayhavearolein
improving this. A benign surgical biopsy is failure of the
non operative diagnosis of which the NHSBSP has a
minimum and desired standard, and although the use of
vacuum assisted biopsy has been used it is not optimal
for all cases [12]. A piecemeal radiological excision for
instance of a papilloma using a vacuum device, ignores the
fact that in the few lesions of this pathology where ductal
carcinoma in situ is associated, this is often present on the
edge of the lesion. Without having a complete margin of
excision in these lesions that are vacuum excised, there
will undoubtedly be cases where this is not fully removed
and the residual tissue may contain the ductal carcinoma in
situ on the edge of the lesion. Indeed the literature with
regards papilloma vacuum excision to date includes only
several small series of cases and short term follow up data
using this technique [13,14]. While recurrence of a benign
fibroadenoma following vacuum excision is problematic it
is not potentially life threatening, but if even low grade
malignancy is left behind following a vacuum excision of
a papilloma or other borderline lesion then the conse-
Table 1 Summary of final pathology
Lesion pathology BLES excision margin
of 1 mm or more
Residual lesion at
follow up surgery
Atypical ductal
hyperplasia
4/4 n/a
Columnar cell change
with NO atypia
7/7 n/a
Columnar cell change
with atypia
3/3 0/2
Fat necrosis 3/3 n/a
Fibroadenomatoid
change
5/5 n/a
Fibrocystic change 7/7 n/a
Foreign body reaction 1/1 n/a
Papilloma, papillary
change
13/15 1/2
Radial scar 7/12 0/2
Sclerosing adenosis 4/4 n/a
DCIS low grade 7/9 2/6
Other malignant
lesions
2/6 3/6
Eur Radiol
quences may be serious. Therefore extending vacuum
biopsies to indeterminate and potentially malignant lesions
is certainly contentious, as the absence of a defined margin
of excision will always be a criticism. The BLES clearly
circumvents this problem and in a way provides a small
but safe “surgical margin”.
Our sample size is small, and in particular the analysis of
margins of malignant lesion excision, are not sufficiently
statistically powered. Indeed this technique is not marketed
or FDA approved for removal of malignant lesions, and it is
only by coincidence that essentially a handful of patients
with low grade non-invasive malignancy were managed
purely in this fashion in our study. However, the results
from this paper show that as wand technology improves,
this may one day be possible. An upgraded system has
recently been released, with FDA approval being consid-
ered for a more therapeutic remit. This will involve a larger
and perhaps more efficient sample acquisition which may
make margin negative excision of sub centimetre cancers a
reality. This however will result in even larger skin
excisions, which may not be cosmetically optimal, and
naturally the accuracy of the BLES excision will be
scrutinised much further. However, important future work
may be to embark upon a prospective therapeutic study of
this technique in its efficacy at achieving margin status in
malignant disease.
Conclusion
This technical report shows that indeterminate small breast
lesions can be managed successfully by using a BLES
biopsy. Lesions shown to be benign following this
diagnostic excision biopsy are in the majority completely
excised and thus the pathologists can be confident in their
diagnosis particularly in setting of many borderline lesions
where small foci of malignancy can be subtle.
Acknowledgements No funding has been obtained in relation to this
study and paper.
The authors state that there is no conflict of interest, financial or
otherwise, involved in the preparation or the submission of this article.
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