Digital Stereotactic Breast Biopsy
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Brandon Regional Hospital's digital stereotactic breast biopsy suite is located on the first floor of the hospital in the Radiology Department. On the day of your scheduled procedure, please arrive in Admitting/Registration in Tower A (park in South Parking Garage) 1½ hours prior to your appointment for registration. You will need to bring your insurance information, a photo I.D. and your prescription. It is very important that you also bring your mammogram films as well as the radiology reports three (3) days prior to your procedure. This will help ensure that you, as an educated health care consumer, get the very best in breast care.
What is a Stereotactic Breast Biopsy?
A digital stereotactic breast biopsy is a less painful and invasive technique to obtain a tissue sample than a surgical biopsy. The stereotactic biopsy is performed in an outpatient setting. This biopsy is vacuum-assisted and requires only one insertion with a small sampling probe. This system can obtain multiple specimens to accurately biopsy early stages of breast cancer. This procedure also causes less internal scarring than an open surgical biopsy, which makes it easier for a radiologist to see any new abnormalities on a woman's future mammograms. A digital stereotactic breast biopsy requires at least 1 hour and does not involve general anesthesia or sutures.
How is the Procedure Performed?
The physician performs the digital stereotactic breast biopsy with assistance from a mammography technologist. After you change into a hospital gown, the technologist will have you sit in a specially designed biopsy chair or lie on a specially designed biopsy table and position your breast for the procedure.
The first part of the procedure will be very similar to a mammogram. Your breast will be compressed and a confirming x-ray will be taken to ensure that the area of abnormality is positioned appropriately. When the position is confirmed, two stereo x-rays will be taken. Stereo images are images of the same area taken from different angles. These images are used with the assistance of the computer to determine the exact positioning of the biopsy needle.
The physician will then position the needle correctly and inject a local anesthetic into your breast. This will be done with a tiny needle and you may feel a slight sting. Once the area is numb, the physician will insert the biopsy needle into your breast. Another set of stereo x-rays will be taken to ensure proper needle placement. Once this is confirmed, the physician will ask you to hold still while the tissue samples are taken. When this is completed, the compression paddle will be released and the technologist will then apply pressure to the biopsy site for a few minutes to prevent bleeding. A dressing will then be applied, which you will wear home.
When Can I Resume My Normal Activities?
The technologist will give you instructions for your care after the procedure. Many women return to their normal routine immediately, but it is recommended that strenuous exercise or activities be avoided for at least 24 hours.
How Will I Find Out the Results?
The biopsy is sent to the hospital pathologist. The pathologist will review the tissue sample under a microscope and send a report to your referring physician within 72 hours. Your referring physician will discuss the results of the procedure with you at your follow-up visit.
Future Questions
If you have any additional questions for the mammography technologist, please call 813-681-5551, extension 2553.