Excisional breast biopsy under local anesthesia: stress-related neuroendocrine, metabolic and immune reactions during the procedure.

AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate three axes: the sympathetic system (adrenaline and noradrenaline), surgical stress-related endocrine factors (prolactin, cortisol, insulin, glucose and growth hormone) and inflammatory cytokines (IL-1alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6) during excisional breast biopsy under local anesthesia (EBBLA). PATIENTS AND METHODS On 14 women undergoing EBBLA, all the aforementioned molecules were measured in peripheral venous blood samples prior (baseline), during (at 10 and 30 minutes), at the end of EBBLA (46+/-9 minutes) and one hour after its end. RESULTS Serum growth hormone glucose and cortisol were found elevated at the 10th and 30th minute and at the end of EBBLA. Serum prolactin increased only at the 30th minute. Of notice, none of the measured parameters was found elevated one hour after the end of biopsy. Concerning adrenaline, noradrenaline and interleukins, no significant changes were documented. CONCLUSION During EBBLA, significant stress-related endocrine events arise. However, no significant sympathetic / cytokine triggering was noted.