Background: Hematoma is the main complication of vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB). This study aims to evaluate the associations between interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 and hematoma progression.
Methods: This study included 36 women who underwent VABB (11G). After VABB, mammograms were obtained from these patients and the maximum diameter of the hematomas was measured. The hematoma progression / occurrence of organized hematomas was followed up for the subsequent 30 days. Venous samples were collected peripherally at 3 time points: prior, at the end, and 1 h after the end of the VABB procedure. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used for the determination of serum IL-1alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6 levels.
Results: 2/36 hematomas were eventually organized within the follow-up period. In these cases, IL-6 had been significantly higher 1 h after the end of VABB (5.70 +/- 0.18 vs. 1.73 +/- 1.01 pg/ml; p = 0.019, Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test for independent samples). No statistically significant associations existed concerning IL-1alpha and IL-1beta. The association between the size of a hematoma on the mammogram and the subsequent organization did not reach statistical significance.
Conclusions: Elevated IL-6 at 1 h after the end of VABB might point to subsequent organization of the hematoma and the need for appropriate action.
Copyright 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel.