Bleeding Complications After Breast Core-needle Biopsy—An Approach to Managing Patients on Antithrombotic Therapy

Abstract Image-guided core-needle breast and axillary biopsy (CNB) is the standard-of-care procedure for diagnosis of cancer. Although risks CNB are low, most common complications include bleeding hematoma formation. Post-procedural particular concern in patients taking antithrombotic therapy, but there currently no widely established standard protocol United States to guide therapy management. In face an increasing number with advent novel classes anticoagulants, American College Radiology guidelines recommend that radiologists consider cessation prior on a case-by-case basis. Lack consensus results disparate approaches undergoing CNB. There further heterogeneity recommendations based modality used image-guided biopsy, target location, simultaneous biopsies, type agent. A review available data demonstrates safety continuing during while highlighting additional procedural lesion factors may increase risk bleeding. Risk stratification interventional procedures proposed both pre-procedural decision-making post-procedural Radiologists should be aware agent pharmacokinetics strategies minimize safely manage patients.