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 What is a Stereotactic Breast Biopsy?
Once a lump or abnormality has been detected, your doctor may want
to conduct a biopsy. This procedure involves taking sample tissue
from the suspicious area to determine whether it is cancerous.
While the thought of having a biopsy might be frightening, the results
can provide reassuring peace of mind. Remember, the vast majority
of biopsies turn out to be non-cancerous. And a biopsy is currently
the only way to achieve an accurate diagnosis
Common uses of this procedure.
This procedure is used to find out whether the lump on your breast
found by your physician is cancerous or not.
How does it work?
Stereotactic Breast Biopsy is a nonsurgical procedure completed on
an outpatient basis with a minimum of discomfort and recovery time.
Image North uses the MammotomeŽ Breast Biopsy System for this
procedure.
 Upon entering the procedure room, the woman lies facedown on a special
table. The table has a hole through which the breast is placed. The
breast is slightly compressed to immobilize it, just as in a mammogram.
This allows our radiologists to get a clear mammographic image of
the area to be sampled. The table is connected to a computer that
processes digital images. Placement of the sampling device is guided
by a computerized system using x-rays.
Two images at different angles are taken that allow the computer
to localize the mass and calculate the coordinates. Local anesthesia
is used before the vacuum - operated needle is advanced to the coordinates
that were calculated by the computer.
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The advance of the needle is
followed by several images. Once the needle is seen to be in the breast mass
or the breast microcalcification, vacuum-assisted biopsies are
taken.
The patient is awake throughout the whole procedure and
can go home with a Band-Aid® shortly
thereafter. The pathology specimens are sent to a pathologist, and
the results are usually known within two-to-four days.
Benefits VS risks of a Stereotactic Breast Biopsy?
Benefits
- Usually requires only a 1/4" skin incision.
- Generally is performed in less than one hour under a local anesthetic.
- Minimizes discomfort.
- Tissue samples are sent to a laboratory for analysis and pathologic
results.
- Procedure requires no stitches.
Risks
- Capable of sampling a variety of breast abnormalities,
such as microcalcifications, asymmetric densities, solid masses
or nodules.
- Complications are rare, but patients should call right away if
they experience a fever or have much bleeding from the biopsy site.
- Stereotactic breast biopsies are usually sufficient to determine
the nature of the breast mass. However, at times a larger piece
of tissue may need to be removed afterward.
There is a small ( 2 - 8%) chance that the area biopsied may
not be adequately sampled. You may need to repeat this procedure
or a surgical biopsy.
Patient Comfort
Compared to surgery, stereotactic breast biopsy is quick and less
painful
Preparation Required
It is not necessary (in fact, it is not recommended) to fast prior
to the biopsy. Wear comfortable clothing on the day of the biopsy.
On arrival, you will be asked to remove your clothing from the
waist up and put on a mammography gown. The technologist will then
discuss the biopsy with you, ask pertinent questions, and answer
any questions you might have and will have you sign a consent form.
Please inform the technologist if you have had a prior allergic
reactions to any medications.
After the test
It is best to avoid strenuous activity for about 24 hours after the
procedure. It also helps to place an ice pack on the breast to
ease any discomfort. Some patients may have a bruise for about
10 days after the procedure, and there may be a tiny scar at the
point where the needle was inserted.
Getting Your Results
Image North has doctors on site to promptly provide analysis and
reporting. In most cases, the results of the test will be available
to the referring doctor before the patient leaves the facility.
The doctors at Image North may discuss the results with the patient,
or privately and securely send the results to the referring physician.
Mammotome® Facts
• The Mammotome® System has already been used in more than 1.7 million minimally invasive breast biopsy procedures.
• More than 750,000 women have had successful breast biopsies using the Mammotome® procedure since 1996.
• The Mammotome® Breast Biopsy System is offered in approximately 1,600 hospitals, breast centers and physician offices.
• Breast biopsies using the Mammotome® System are performed in an outpatient setting or doctor's office under local anesthesia.
• Tissue samples collected using the Mammotome® System are just as reliable as open surgical biopsies and three times more accurate than core needle biopsies in the diagnosis of conditions associated with early breast cancer.
• The Mammotome® System is suitable for sampling breast abnormalities including microcalcifications, spiculated masses, asymmetric densities, multifocal disease and diffuse tissue.
• Approximately 95% to 99% of all health insurance plans cover breast biopsies using the Mammotome® System.
• Patients can return to normal daily activity immediately following a breast biopsy using the Mammotome® System.
• In 2003, the Mammotome® System also received clearance for fibroadenomas (non-cancerous breast lumps). Millions of women can now receive care in a doctor's office with the Mammotome® rather than having the lump removed by invasive surgery in an operating room.
• A study in The American Journal of Surgery* (October 2003) reports that 10 days after a biopsy with the Mammotome® System, 82 percent of patients were satisfied with the appearance of the incision and 92 percent of patients would recommend the procedure to others.
* Fine RE, Whitworth PW, Kim JA, et al. Low-risk palpable breast masses removed using a vacuum-assisted hand-held device The American Journal of Surgery 2003 186: 362-367.
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