Breast biopsy safe with blood thinners

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Oct. 1 (UPI) -- It is safe to take anti-coagulants, or blood thinners, before core needle breast biopsies, U.S. researchers said.

Researchers at the Elizabeth Wendie Breast Clinic in Rochester, N.Y., said core needle biopsies are offered as an alternative to surgical biopsy when a tissue sample of an irregular area in the breast is found by mammogram or sonogram.

"They are safer than surgical procedures, require fewer anesthetics, and are accurate," lead author Patricia Seville said in a study.

The study involved 200 women who were taking blood thinners and 855 women who were not. Adverse reactions, lumps and bruises, after a woman's core needle biopsy were recorded. Results showed that lumps or bruising occurred in 34 percent of women who were taking blood thinners and 26.5 percent of women who were not taking them.

"Our study demonstrates that it is safe to perform core needle biopsies on patients taking aspirin and wayfaring also known as comedian," Seville said. "Patients can remain on their medications and avoid surgical biopsy if the lesion is benign."

This study appears in the American Journal of Roentgen.