An extensive review has revealed that a less invasive needle biopsy is almost as effective in the successful diagnosis of breast cancer as the traditional surgical biopsy method, and with side effects that much lesser in comparison.

The new study reviewed and analyzed as many as 80 previous studies comparing the two methods of breast cancer screening, and discovered that breast needle biopsy was able to differentiate between cancerous and noncancerous breast tumors with nearly the same precision and accuracy as surgical biopsy. Also, the risk of suffering from post biopsy complications was cut in half.

As per the researchers, needle biopsy has "fewer complications and a shorter recovery time than open surgical biopsy".

"Based on currently available evidence, it appears reasonable to substitute core needle biopsy procedures for open surgical biopsy given the comparable sensitivity and lower complication rates", noted the research.

The study has been detailed in the Annals of Internal Medicine.