Stereotactic Biopsy

What are the benefits of stereotactic breast biopsy?
Stereotactic breast biopsy offers women a kinder diagnostic alternative to the traditional lumpectomy. This procedure greatly reduces physical and emotional stress, as well as the pain and scarring associated with an open surgical procedure.

Preparing for the procedure
You do not have to fast prior to the exam. You may eat a light breakfast, but you should not drink coffee. If you take aspirin or blood thinners, please inform us and/or your doctor, since they may need to be discontinued for a few days before the procedure. Regular medications should be taken as prescribed. On the day of your biopsy, wear a comfortable two-piece garment. Avoid using any talcum powder or deodorant.

During the exam
You will lie face down on a specially designed table with your breast through an opening in the table top. Once the table top is raised, your physician and a Sacred Heart Hospital technologist will perform the procedure from beneath.

Your breast will be slightly compressed and held in position throughout the procedure. Several pairs of x-rays will be taken to pinpoint the exact location of the lesion or microcalcifications. To ensure accuracy, the position of the mass is calculated to the nearest millimeter before samples are taken.

The skin of the breast will be anesthetized with a small hypodermic needle. An 11-gauge needle will then be inserted at the precise location to extract samples of core tissue. You may sense a slight pressure, but you should not feel pain. You will hear a click from the specially designed biopsy instrument before the samples are taken. Between 10 and 12 samples approximately 3/4 inch long and 1/16 inch in diameter will be removed. These samples will be sent to the pathology laboratory for diagnosis.

During the procedure you will be informed about what is occurring and what you will need to do to assist in the exam. It will last approximately one hour.

After the exam
You may experience some bleeding at the site of the extraction. This will be bandaged and a cold pack applied to relieve swelling or bruising. You may take a non-aspirin pain reliever like Tylenol (two tablets) every four to six hours, if needed, to help alleviate any discomfort.

You may notice some bruising of the area which should resolve within five to seven days. If you notice any excessive swelling, bleeding, drainage, redness, or heat, please call your physician, or Sacred Heart Hospital's Diagnostic Radiology Department at (610) 776-4660.

At Sacred Heart Hospital, pathology results are back within 48 hours. Please contact the physician referring you for this procedure to discuss the findings and to make a follow-up appointment.

It's Important to Know...
More than twenty million mammograms are performed each year. Of the lesions detected through mammography, at least 80 percent are benign. Many lesions represent fibrocystic changes which are of no concern.

Before the development of stereotactic core biopsy, the open surgical procedure was recommended to determine the specific nature of a suspicious growth. Today, Sacred Heart Hospital is pleased to offer patients an accurate diagnostic alternative using sophisticated stereotactic technology.

Instead of an incision, a special needle is used to extract a series of tissue samples. To ensure accuracy and peace of mind, computerized mammography pinpoints the precise location of the lesion.