Lumps or abnormalities in the breast are often detected by physical examination, mammography, or other imaging studies. However, it is not always possible to tell from these imaging tests whether a growth is benign or cancerous. A breast biopsy is performed to remove some cells—either surgically or through a less invasive procedure involving a hollow needle—from a suspicious area in the breast and examine them under a microscope to determine a diagnosis. During a breast biopsy, part or all of a tumor may be removed.
Image-guided biopsy is performed when the abnormal area in the breast is too small to be felt, making it difficult to locate the lesion by hand (called palpation).
In ultrasound-guided breast biopsy, ultrasound imaging is used to help guide the interventional radiologist's instruments to the site of the abnormal growth.
Ultrasound guidance is used in four biopsy procedures:
- Fine needle aspiration (FNA), which uses a very small needle to extract fluid or cells from the abnormal area.
- Core needle(CN) which uses a large hollow needle to remove one sample of breast tissue per insertion.
- Vacuum-assisted device (VAD) which uses a vacuum powered instrument to collect multiple tissue samples during one needle insertion.
- Wire localization, in which a guide wire is placed into the suspicious area to help the surgeon locate the lesion during surgical biopsy.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 832-912-3600.
