Image Guided Biopsy

When an area of concern is detected by an imaging study, biopsies are the only definitive way to confirm whether suspicious tissue is normal or abnormal.  In a biopsy, a tiny amount of tissue is taken from the suspicious area and sent to a pathologist for evaluation and diagnosis.

Depending on your individual needs and the nature of the suspicious area, the radiologist will use MRI, ultrasound, or stereotactic (x-ray) image guidance to visualize the area of concern and take very small tissue samples.

Prior to Your Visit

Patients having biopsies of the breast should refrain from taking any aspirin or Coumadin for 5 days prior to their exam.

Do not eat or drink anything for 4 hours before your visit.

During Your Visit

You may be asked to wear a gown.  Notify the technologist of any medications you currently take, and if there is any chance you may be pregnant.

If you are being seen for a breast biopsy and MRI or stereotactic guidance is used, you will lie on your stomach and the breast will be positioned through an opening in the table where it can be visualized.  If ultrasound guidance is used, you will lie on your back and an ultrasound probe will be placed on the surface of the skin and used to locate the suspicious area.

The skin  will be cleansed and a local anesthetic will be injected with a very fine needle. You may feel a slight sting when the anesthetic is injected.

A hollow needle will be inserted through the skin. Because of the local anesthetic, most patients report only a small amount of discomfort.

The radiologist will visualize the area of concern using the imaging equipment, and guide a small needle to the area of concern.  The needle will be used to extract tiny tissue samples from the suspicious area.

After the needle is removed, a sterile gauze bandage will be placed on the skin to prevent bleeding.

Before leaving our office, you will be given instructions for biopsy aftercare that are specific to your individual needs. Your skin should heal quickly, leaving almost no sign of the procedure.

Please contact us if you have any questions about a biopsy procedure.

After Your Visit

Following your biopsy, the radiologist produce a report of the procedure including any further imaging findings, and a pathologist will analyze the tissue sample taken during the procedure and prepare a report of findings.  Both of these reports will be sent directly to your primary physician.  You should contact your physician to discuss the results of your biopsy. If there is any urgency, your physician is welcome to contact us.