The procedure is now offered at major medical centers in the U.S. To accomplish the biopsy, the patient lies prone on a padded platform equipped with a hole to accommodate the breast. Panaro said lying prone is more comfortable for the patient, decreases failure rate and increases accuracy. Under compression, the breast is x-rayed from two angles, and the image is digitized and appears on a video screen. The image is enhanced until the abnormal tissue can be pinpointed precisely. The computer calculates horizontal, vertical and depth coordinates of the site to be biopsied and positions the needle at the point of entry.
Patients can return to work immediately.
The tiny incision heals completely with no scarring. Results of the biopsy are available in 24-48 hours. There's no question they would chose this option over surgery.