Breast Cancer - Moose and Doc

A breast cancer explanations website

 

By Dr. Halls

Stereotactic Biopsy of the Breast

A stereotactic breast biopsy uses a specialized mammography device that employs ionizing radiation.  This type of biopsy assists the radiologist to find the site of abnormal breast tissue growth.

Most of the time a conventional mammogram is sufficient, but in certain situations, a stereotactic biopsy may be necessary to find the exact spots for surgical removal.

What are these Special Situations?

I just want to let you know that I have a new page all about breast biopsy, including Stereotactic Breast Biopsy.

When is this Biopsy necessary?

stereotactic breast biopsy xray

Stereotactic guidance is often used in core biopsy needle samples of suspicious breast tumors.   In addition, this technique is sometimes in use with vacuum-assisted devices (VAD).  VAD devices can collect multiple breast tissue samples during a single needle insertion).

A computer combines two images at a ‘known’ angle of difference

Essentially, this type of breast biopsy is a stereo biopsy. So, as you would expect, on mammogram radiologists take two pictures.  The images are at approximately 15 degrees angle difference (or some other known exact angle). A computer is then able to calculate the x, y and z position of any unique spot that is visible on both views.

The computer moves a little needle guide to the exact place.   So when you insert a needle along the path of the needle guide, it ends up with the needle-tip at the correct location.  In the days before there were computers moving robotic needle guides, there was a way to perform this biopsy with trigonometry and manual movement of needle guides.

This Breast Biopsy might avoid unnecessary breast surgery

In some cases, either the patient or the doctor may be so adamantly opposed to a surgical procedure, this biopsy might be employed instead. Some of the benefits of using this type of breast biopsy in the evaluation of breast tumors is that it may prevent a woman with a benign tumor from ongoing, unnecessary surgical procedures.

Further Reading

Return to Homepage

References

About Steven Halls

Dr Halls has 25 years experience as a radiologist. He worked for 13 years at Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, a world-class cancer treatment facility. He has had high-volume experience with cancer, interventional procedures, clinical trials and his own phase 1 and 2 research in MRI and breast cancer staging.