Needle biopsy alternative to breast cancer surgery?

December 15, 2009 A new study in the Annals of Internal Medicine finds the less invasive core needle biopsy procedure is nearly as effective in diagnosing the disease as an open surgical procedure.

It also means fewer complications than the surgical version.

Researchers found the rate of complications for core needle biopsy was less than 1 percent , while surgical biopsy complication rates were between 2 and 10 percent.