As with surgical methods, there is a slight risk that the lesion will be missed or inadequately sampled, requiring a second biopsy. He typically performs stereotactic breast biopsies in about 25 minutes. Patients are allowed to return immediately to normal activities, and results are typically available in 24 hours. Because the Women's Wellness Center is an open facility, any qualified surgeon who is trained in the technique may request privileges to perform stereotactic breast biopsies for their patients, Santelices says. A radiologist is available at all times for expert X-ray interpretation.
Diagnostic biopsies work in tandem with initial mammogram results.
If a mammogram suggests a benign lesion, stereotactic biopsy confirming the diagnosis can eliminate the need for surgery. If the test suggests a malignancy, the procedure can replace the need for excisional biopsy and patients can undergo a single, definitive, surgical procedure. Tissue samples taken through biopsy provide essential information about the type of cells found, as well as the prognosis of disease. Determining a lesion is benign brings peace of mind, whereas finding cancers before they have spread gives a woman a wide variety of treatment options. That's why it is so important for women to have annual breast exams and to have a biopsy if their physicians detect any suspicious lesions.