X-Ray Guided (Stereotactic) Breast Biopsy
Mammography is an excellent way to detect breast abnormalties, but in many cases it is not possible to tell from the imaging studies alone whether a growth is benign or cancerous. To make this determination, it is necessary to obtain a tissue sample for microscopic examination. An alternative to open surgical biospy, a hollow needle may be passed through the skin into the suspicious lesion with the help of special breast x-rays. This procedure is much less invasive and time consuming than the surgical approach.
The principle of stereotactic biopsy is that a lesion can be located precisely in three dimensions by calculating its apparent change in position on angled X-ray images. Using computerized or digital imaging in place of a film cassette, X-ray exposure is reduced to the breast and also permits the images to be viewed on a computer monitor seconds after exposure.
X-ray guided breast biopsy can take up to an hour or more. Most women report little or no pain and no scar is left from the tiny skin incision.
Aspirus Keweenaw is the only facility in the Western U.P. to have a X-ray guided (Stereotactic) Breast Biopsy Table.
