Mammography
Sentinal Lymph Node Imaging
Stereolactic Breast Biopsy
Ultrasound Guided Biopsy
Breast MRI

Stereotactic Breast Biopsy is a nonsurgical procedure completed on an outpatient basis with a minimum of discomfort and recovery time.

When this type of biopsy is performed, local anesthesia is applied to the breast. The patient lies stomach-down on a special table with a hole through which the breast is placed. The breast is slightly compressed to immobilize it, just like during a mammogram. This allows the doctor to get a clear image of the area to be sampled. The table is connected to a computer that processes digital images. Placement of the sampling device is guided by a computerized system using x-rays.

Two images are taken at different angles to allow the computer to localize the mass and calculate its coordinates. A vacuum-operated needle is advanced to the coordinates. The advance of the needle is followed by several images.

Once the needle is seen to be in the breast mass or calcification, the doctor takes vacuum-assisted biopsies. The patient is awake throughout the whole procedure and can go home with a Band-Aid®.Specimens are sent to a pathologist and results are usually known within two-to-four days. Ultrasound breast biopsies can also be performed.