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Breast Biopsies
What is a breast biopsy?
A biopsy is when we take pieces of breast tissue and send it to the lab to be tested to see if the area in your breast is cancer or benign (not cancer)
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We perform 3 main types of biopsies at BBDC.
These include:​
(1) Ultrasound-guided biopsy
(2) Mammogram-guided biopsy (called Stereotactic biopsy)
(3) MRI-guided biopsy
How do you prepare for a breast biopsy?
Before your biopsy:
(1) Make sure to keep to your normal routine.
(2) Eat, drink and take your medications as you normally do.
(3) Tell the care team about any blood thinner medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, coumadin, or plavix
(4) Tell the care team about any allergies you might have
(5) For MRI Biopsies -- tell the care team if you are uncomfortable with small spaces or loud noises
(6) For MRI Biopsies -- Do not wear metal in your hair or on your body.
What happens during an ultrasound-guided biopsy?
Biopsies are scheduled for 30 minutes, however, the time of the actual procedure is much shorter. ​​
The first few minutes are spent filling out paperwork. ​After this, your will lay face up on the ultrasound table.
A doctor will clean and numb the breast so you do not feel any discomfort. Your doctor will then guide a needle into the breast and take five tissue samples. You may feel pressure, but no pain.
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After this, a biopsy clip will be placed within the breast at the site of biopsy. A clip is a tiny piece of metal that can be seen on x-ray and is safe for MRI and metal detection. You will not feel it.
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The clip shows the spot in your breast where the biopsy was done. If the area is benign, the clip will stay in your breast. Otherwise, it will come out with surgery.
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You can find out more information about the biopsy at this link.
What happens during a stereotactic core biopsy?
Biopsies are scheduled for 60 minutes, however, the time of the actual procedure is much shorter. ​​
The first few minutes are spent filling out paperwork. ​After this, you will sit in a chair in the procedure room. Your breast will be placed on a small platform on the mammography unit. Your breast will be gently squeezed.
A doctor will then clean and numb the breast so you do not feel any discomfort. Your doctor will then guide a needle into the breast using the mammogram machine. The doctor will take multiple tissue samples. You may feel pressure, but no pain.
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After this, a biopsy clip will be placed within the breast at the site of biopsy. A clip is a tiny piece of metal that can be seen on x-ray and is safe for MRI and metal detection. You will not feel it.
​​
The clip shows the spot in your breast where the biopsy was done. If the area is benign, the clip will stay in your breast. Otherwise, it will come out with surgery.
​
You can find out more about this type of biopsy at this link.
What happens during an MRI biopsy?
Biopsies are scheduled for 60 minutes, however, the time of the actual procedure is much shorter. ​​
The first few minutes are spent filling out paperwork
and having your intravenous (IV) line placed. The IV line will be placed in your arm.
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After this, your will lay face down on the MRI table and your breast will be positioned through openings in the table. The breast being biopsied will be gently compressed using biopsy paddles to hold the breast in place. This will feel tight but not painful. You will be moved into the MRI tube with your feet going in first. This is when the images are taken. While the images are being taken, a contrast dye will be given through your IV line.
After the first set of images are taken, you will come out of the machine and the procedure will begin.​
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A doctor will clean and numb the breast so you do not feel any discomfort. Your doctor will then guide a needle into the breast using the MRI machine. The doctor will take multiple tissue samples. You may feel pressure, but no pain. You will be moving in and out of the MRI machine during this time.
​​
After this, a biopsy clip will be placed within the breast at the site of biopsy. A clip is a tiny piece of metal that can be seen on x-ray and is safe for MRI and metal detection. You will not feel it.
​​
The clip shows the spot in your breast where the biopsy was done. If the area is benign, the clip will stay in your breast. Otherwise, it will come out with surgery.
You can find out more information about MRI biopsies at this link. ​You ​
What are post-procedure instructions?
Your wound will be dressed with white steri-strips and band aids. You will be given instructions on how to care for the wound after the biopsy. If you had intravenous line placed, it will then be removed.
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Two mammogram pictures will be taken before you leave. These pictures are to show where the biopsy clip is located in the breast.
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Post- procedure instructions can be found here: