Breast Procedures and Biopsies:
Your physician may recommend a breast biopsy in order to get samples of tissue. A pathologist will then look at these tissue samples to look for cancer.
- Breast Biopsies:
- Fine Needle Aspiration
- In a fine needle aspiration, a very thin needle is used to draw fluid and cells from a lump.
-
- Core Breast Biopsy
- In a core biopsy, a larger needle is used to remove more tissue. This procedure may be performed stereotactically using the digital mammography machine, with ultrasound guidance, or MRI guidance. Pathology results will be available within 48 hours.
- Ductography or Galactography
- This test is used to evaluate discharge from the nipple. A radiopaque (can be seen on a mammogram) substance is put into the duct and images are taken. The radiologist will look for areas of irregularity in the ducts.
-
- Needle localization
- A procedure used to guide a surgical breast biopsy. A wire is placed in the area of concern. The surgeon uses the path of the wire as a guide to locate the abnormal area to be removed.
