Diagnostic Procedures

Until recently, a tissue sample from a breast lump could only be obtained by a surgical operation. We are now able to offer image guided needle biopsy as an alternative, using either an ultrasound or stereotactic machine to guide a small needle into an area to be sampled. These guidance systems allow rapid, painless biopsies of breast tissue without surgery and with little scarring.

Radiologists at the Breast Health Center have recently published their experience with 1333 such needle biopsies since 1994. Diagnostic accuracy was 99.4% in these cases.

Read about breast biopsy in HealthWise Knowledgebase.

Ultrasound Guided Breast Biopsy

Ultrasound Guided Breast Biopsy uses a high-resolution ultrasound to image a breast lump. With guidance from the ultrasound image, a biopsy is obtained utilizing a thin needle to extract cores of tissue, 3/4 of an inch long and 1/16 of an inch wide. This is done under local anesthesia through a 1/4-inch incision.


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Stereotactic Breast Biopsy

Stereotactic Breast Biopsy uses computer guidance to precisely position a biopsy needle within the breast. The biopsy needle is used to extract thin strips of tissue, from the suspicious area. An incision approximately 1/4 inch wide is made in the anaesthetized skin to allow the needle to enter the breast tissue.


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Needle Localization Breast Biopsy

A “needle localization breast biopsy” is done when an abnormality that cannot be felt is seen on a mammogram or ultrasound examination of your breast.


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Ultrasound-Guided Breast Cyst Aspiration

A radiologist uses images made with sound waves (ultrasound) to precisely position a needle within your breast in order to drain fluid-filled, cysts.


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