Biopsy Procedures
Lincoln Surgical will perform an ultrasound-guided, stereotactic, or excisional breast biopsy depending on the size and location of the suspicious area.
Ultrasound-Guided Biopsy
An ultrasound-guided breast biopsy is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that uses an ultrasound, or sound waves, to detect abnormalities within the breast tissue so that we may collect a tissue sample, or biopsy.
Procedure
During this procedure, you will lie on your back, and a clear gel will be applied to your skin. The surgeon will then pass a transducer wand over the breast. When the suspicious area is located, a small tissue sample will be drawn from the breast through a tiny incision under a local anesthetic. This tissue sample will be sent to a pathologist to be evaluated, and you will return home shortly after the biopsy is completed.
Stereotactic Biopsy
A stereotactic biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses mammogram guidance to remove tissue from a suspected abnormality in the breast.
Procedure
We perform the procedure through a tiny incision in the skin, and you can return home shortly after the biopsy is complete.
We performed
1,437minimally invasive breast surgeries in 2022.
A stereotactic biopsy is performed in an outpatient hospital setting. During the procedure, your breast will be compressed, much like it is during a mammogram; however, you will be laying on your stomach. Under guidance of mammogram images, a tissue sample is removed from the breast with a specialized instrument. Following the procedure, the tissue sample will be sent to a pathologist for further examination.
Excisional Biopsy
An excisional breast biopsy is an outpatient surgical procedure used to remove a larger sample of tissue from the breast.
Procedure
An excisional biopsy is a traditional form of open surgery that requires an incision in the breast that can be between 1 to 2 inches long. This type of biopsy is performed when less a minimally invasive biopsy is not an option or if the results of a minimally invasive biopsy are inconclusive.
During an excisional biopsy, your surgeon will attempt to remove the entire abnormality. A small amount of healthy tissue that immediately surrounds the affected area is often removed as well, to ensure the full removal of the concern. The length and complexity of the procedure depends upon a number of factors, including the depth of the abnormality within the breast tissue. This procedure usually requires intravenous and often general anesthesia, so you should expect to have someone available to take you home following the biopsy.