Abstract
Background: Stereotactic vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) is used for the assessment of non-palpable mammographic lesions. This study aims to evaluate stress- and anxiety-related endocrine responses during VABB. Materials and Methods: VABB (11 G, Fischer's table) was performed on 22 women. Serum adrenaline, noradrenaline, prolactin, cortisol, growth hormone, glucose and insulin were measured prior to, during (at 10 and 30 minutes), at the end of and one hour after VABB. Results: Baseline serum adrenaline and noradrenaline were above the normal range in 14/22 and 13/22 patients, respectively. Baseline serum growth hormone, insulin, prolactin, cortisol were above the normal range in <10% of patients. At all time points, serum prolactin and cortisol exhibited a significant increase from baseline values. Serum noradrenaline and growth hormone were found elevated at the end of and one hour after VABB. Conclusion: Immediately before VABB, women are frequently stressed expecting the forthcoming biopsy. The further hormone increase which follows VABB may be attributed to surgical trauma.
- Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy
- stress response
- adrenaline
- noradrenaline
- prolactin
- cortisol
- growth hormone
- glucose
- insulin
Footnotes
- Received July 13, 2007.
- Revision received October 17, 2007.
- Accepted October 22, 2007.
- Copyright © 2007 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved