Stereotactic Breast Biopsy
Sometimes referred to as vacuum assisted biopsy. This type of biopsy is performed when a suspicious abnormality is found on a mammogram and sometimes on an ultrasound. The most common type of abnormality is microcalcifications, tiny deposits of calcium seen on a mammogram. The radiologist uses a computer to exactly pinpoint the suspicious area and guides the biopsy instrument to that precise location. You will be lying on your abdomen for this type of biopsy. Before the procedure begins the doctor will numb the skin and tissue around the suspicious area. The procedure usually takes less than an hour. There are no stitches and most women are able to resume many of their normal activities that day. You can eat and drink as usual before and after the biopsy. You will need a doctor’s order for this procedure.
To view a video of a Stereotactic Breast Biopsy procedure,
click here.
Open Surgical Biopsy
Surgical biopsies are performed in the Outpatient Care Center. Patients are typically sedated with intravenous medications and a local anesthetic is injected into the breast. You may have a few stitches and will not be able to drive yourself home.
There are two types of surgical biopsies.
- Incisional Biopsy: Removal of part of the lump or abnormality.
- Excisional Biopsy: Removal of the whole lump or abnormality.
Wire Localization
Sometimes called a Needle Localization Biopsy. This procedure is often the first step as part of an Open Surgical Biopsy. This type of procedure is typically performed by the radiologist in the Center for Breast Health. First the skin and tissue around the abnormality is numbed with local anesthetic. Mammography, ultrasound or MRI is used to image the breast while the radiologist guides a wire into the abnormality. Some of the wire will be outside of the breast. A protective cup is placed over the wire. A staff member will then transfer you to the Outpatient Surgical Center to begin the open surgical biopsy. Your surgeon will use the wire to locate the exact spot that needs to be removed. The abnormal area, along with the wire, is removed.
To view a video of an Open Surgical Biopsy with Wire Localization click here.
Ultrasound Guided Breast Biopsy
Sometimes called a core needle biopsy. This type of biopsy is performed when a suspicious abnormality is found on an ultrasound. Ultrasound is used to locate the abnormality. The doctor can watch the needle on a screen as it moves toward and into the mass. Before the procedure begins the doctor will numb the skin and breast tissue around the suspicious area. He/she will then insert the needle and remove a few small cores of tissue. The procedure usually takes less than an hour. There are no stitches and most women are able to resume many of their normal activities that day. You can eat and drink as usual before and after the biopsy. You will need a doctor’s order for this procedure.
Ultrasound Guided Fine Needle Aspiration or FNA
Often performed on breast lumps that can easily be palpated (felt). Ultrasound is used to locate the abnormality. The doctor can watch the needle on a screen as it moves toward and into the mass. Before the procedure begins the doctor will numb the skin and breast tissue around the suspicious area. He/she will then insert the needle and remove a few cells or fluid. The procedure usually takes less than an hour. There are no stitches and most women are able to resume many of their normal activities that day. You can eat and drink as usual before and after the aspiration. You will need a doctor’s order for this procedure.
There are two main uses for FNA:
- To drain fluid from a lump typically a cyst (liquid filled sac). The doctor will examine the fluid and determine if further testing is needed. An FNA will often will be able to tell if the lump is a cyst. The fluid from a cyst can be drained and the cyst will usually not grow back.
- To remove a few cells from a solid area. A few cells are drawn up into a syringe. The cells are examined by a pathologist. Sometimes the FNA biopsy does not remove enough cells to tell if the abnormality is cancerous or benign (normal). In this case another biopsy may be needed.
MRI Guided Breast Biopsy
This type of biopsy is performed when a suspicious abnormality is found on a Breast MRI exam. An IV (intravenous line) will be placed and you will be positioned on a padded table lying on your abdomen. The abnormality is again relocated using MRI scanning. The radiologist uses a sophisticated computer to exactly pinpoint the suspicious area and guides the biopsy instrument to that precise location. Before the procedure begins the doctor will numb the skin and tissue around the suspicious area. The procedure usually takes about one hour. There are no stitches and most women are able to resume many of their normal activities that day. You can eat and drink as usual before and after the biopsy. You will need a doctor’s order for this procedure.