Current Research:

Stereotactic needle biopsy is a method by which small pieces of tissue may be removed from the breast, under x-ray guidance, through a skin puncture or a small incision and without surgery.  Of the many suspicious-looking shadows found on routine mammograms, less than one third are actually cancerous.  Stereotactic needle biopsy allows accurate diagnosis of the majority of these lesions without open biopsy.

How is it done?
The stereotactic needle biopsy is an outpatient procedure and may be scheduled through a physician's office.  During the procedure, the patient lies on a special examination table while x-rays and a computer are used to identify the exact location of the lesion.

Schematic Representation of Stereotactic Imaging

The skin of the breast is then anesthetized and the biopsy needle inserted.  Correct placement is confirmed by x-ray

Stereotactic images of a biopsy needle in the breast cancer

There are several types of needles and devices for sampling. One type has a notch in it to remove tissue samples (cores) from the area of concern.  About five or six cores are taken to ensure adequate sampling.  These are then taken to the pathologist for testing to see if the tissue is cancerous or not.  Other tests may also be done on the samples should they prove positive for cancer

What about results?

Results are usually available two to three days post-biopsy.  If the results are adequate and show no evidence of cancer a follow-up mammogram in 6-12months is recommended.

Should the pathology report reveal malignant or suspicious, or in less than 5%, inadequate, the patient is scheduled for surgical removal of the lesion (open biopsy).  This is usually done under local anesthesia, with or without intravenous sedation.

What are the advantages?
This is a method that allows many women to avoid unnecessary surgery.  Approximately 3/4 of all breast biopsies currently performed in the U.S. for abnormal mammograms turn out to be benign.  Stereotactic needle biopsy is a method by which women at low risk for cancer may safely have a correct diagnosis without surgery.  The likelihood of a cancer to be missed by stereotactic needle biopsy is approximately 2%, the same rate as open biopsy1a,6a