What happens if a mammogram or a physical examination detects a suspicious lump in your breast? In some cases, you may need to have a biopsy performed to remove a small piece of breast tissue for testing. Until fairly recently, a breast biopsy was an invasive surgical procedure that left a scar. But now, a minimally invasive alternative called a stereotactic breast biopsy offers a quicker, less costly and generally painless alternative to a surgical biopsy. During a stereotactic breast biopsy, a physician uses X-ray technology and a computer to precisely locate the suspected breast tissue. A needle is then inserted to remove a small amount of tissue from the suspicious area.
The benefits of a stereotactic breast biopsy are many. There’s little or no scarring, and the procedure can be performed in less than an hour. Recovery time is brief, and patients can soon resume their usual activities. Generally, the procedure is not painful and the results are as accurate as when a tissue sample is removed surgically.
If you’re a patient who may require a breast biopsy, be sure to discuss this safe, accurate and reliable new option with your physician.
Source: Mayo Clinic, webMD