Stereotactic Breast Biopsy
A breast biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure done to remove some cells from a lump or abnormality detected during a mammogram. The sample will be sent to pathology for testing and diagnosis. This non-surgical procedure evaluates if the breast lump or abnormality is benign or cancerous. Stereotactic biopsies use X-rays taken from different angles and a biopsy needle to get tissue samples from the area of interest.
What To Expect
- We’ll give you a call before your appointment to talk through preparation instructions.
- Please provide the name, address and phone number of any facility where you have had a prior mammogram. If you have images from previous exams, please bring them to your appointment. Our radiologist may need these prior images for comparison in order to make an accurate diagnosis.
- Be sure to tell us if you are pregnant, nursing, or if there is a chance you may be pregnant.
- On the day of your exam, please arrive 15 minutes early for check-in.
- Please consider bringing someone with you to your biopsy procedure to drive you home.
- A technologist will greet you and will go over a few health questions.
- You will be led to a dressing room to remove your shirt and bra and put on a robe or gown that we provide for your exam.
- During the procedure, you will be positioned either in front of the stereotactic machine or face down on a table.
- The skin will be cleaned and numbed with a needle.
- Your breast will then be positioned with slight compression, and several X-ray images will be taken to locate the abnormality.
- The radiologist will insert a tiny, hollow needle and position it in location of the abnormality.
- Additional X-rays will be taken to ensure accurate placement.
- Several tissue samples may be taken, to be sent on to a pathologist to be examined.
- A tiny tissue marker will be placed in the breast to mark the biopsy area. You will not be able to feel the marker, but it will show up on future mammograms.
- Once the biopsy is complete, the needle will be removed, pressure will be applied, and the skin will be covered with a dressing.
- When your scan is complete, you’ll be escorted back to the changing room so you can change out of the scrubs and back into your clothing.
- Once you have changed, your appointment is complete. You do not need to check out with the front desk when you leave.
- The tissue samples will be sent to a pathologist for final diagnosis.
- You should follow up with your referring provider to discuss your results.
What It’s Like to Get a Breast Biopsy