Ultrasound Breast Biopsy

In many cases when a mammogram or other diagnostic tool detects an abnormal area in a woman’s breast, the patient’s doctor will order a biopsy of the suspicious area to determine if the nature of the abnormal growth.  As many of today’s diagnostic tools are able to detect growths much earlier than before, often these abnormal growths cannot be detected by the doctor’s touch, so performing a biopsy is difficult unless ultrasound is used during the biopsy to assist in visualization of the area.  During the ultrasound biopsy, ultrasound is used to guide the instruments used by the highly trained and skilled Radiologist to harvest cells from the suspicious area.  Once the cells are harvested, the cells are examined under a microscope to determine the cause of the growth.

During the procedure, which is done on an outpatient basis, the patient is made completely comfortable and the procedure is usually over with very quickly.  Once the procedure is over, the patient may feel slight soreness in the area of the biopsy, however the Radiologist will recommend an over the counter painkiller or write a prescription for a mild painkiller, if necessary.  Scheduling is quick and easy as well.  The results will be available quickly as well, allowing the patient and their doctor to take the next steps in treatment if the results of the biopsy are not what they hoped for.

Ultrasound breast biopsy and regular mammograms are just two of the tools available to patients and their doctors to detect breast cancer very early.  The early detection of the disease, as well as current treatment options, is critical to the patient’s long term prognosis!

Posted on behalf of Diagnostic Radiology