Costly coagulation profile tests prior to performing breast biopsies

OBJECTIVES To reassess the need for routine coagulation profile testing in patients undergoing image-guided breast biopsies.  METHODS This is a retrospective cross-sectional study. Data was collected from the logbook of patients that underwent image-guided biopsies in the breast unit at the Department of Radiology, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Patients' electronic records between November 2013 and October 2014 were included in the study. Exclusion criteria were those on anticoagulants, or platelet aggregation inhibitors, and patients with known primary, or secondary bleeding diathesis. The study was analyzed using the IBM Statistical Packages for Social Sciences Version 22 (IBMCorp, Armonk, NY, USA).   RESULTS A total of 136 patients were included in our study. Neither partial thromboplastin time (PTT), or thrombocytopenia was related to bleeding with p-values of 0.536 PTT and 0.997 thrombocytopenia. Needle gauge was found to be significantly related to bleeding episodes with a p=0.020.  CONCLUSION We advise against the routine use of coagulation profiles to predict bleeding risk. A thorough bleeding assessment is more advantageous. Laboratory tests should be tailored according to the patient's history and examination findings.