Breast Biopsy

Your breast biopsy will be performed by a specialized doctor called a radiologist. During this procedure you be seated or lay on your side with your breast compressed. The radiologist will use mammographic images to guide accurate sampling. After cleaning the skin, the doctor will inject local anesthetic into the breast tissue to minimize or eliminate pain during the procedure. The anesthetic may burn or sting initially but will start working within seconds. The doctor then inserts a needle into the breast. Sometimes a small cut (about 3 mm) is made in the skin first to help facilitate needle placement. Through the needle a few tiny samples of tissue are obtained from the area of concern, typically 3-8 samples in total. The tissue samples are passed through the needle via suction, and the tissue is imaged.

After sampling is completed a tiny metallic site marker or “microclip” about the size of a sesame seed is placed at the site of biopsy. This will remain in the breast unless surgery is required to remove the lesion and is important to locate the area for further treatment (if needed) or follow up.

Brevera Biopsy System

Technology to Reduce Pain and Stress During Breast Biopsy

Hoag knows that to a woman undergoing a breast biopsy, every minute matters. That is why Hoag is one of the only hospitals in Orange County to offer the Brevera Biopsy System, technology that increases the success rate of biopsies, while significantly decreasing the average time it takes to perform a biopsy. This focus on patient-centric care is one reason Hoag is the first and only hospital in Orange County to be named a Certified Breast Center of Excellence for the eighth consecutive year, recognizing Hoag’s position as a national leader in breast health.

Your breast biopsy will be performed by a specialized doctor called a radiologist. During this procedure you will lie on your back or side on the ultrasound table and the radiologist will use real-time ultrasound to guide accurate sampling. After cleaning the skin, the doctor will inject local anesthetic into the breast tissue to minimize or eliminate pain during the procedure. The anesthetic may burn or sting initially but will start working within seconds. The doctor then inserts a thin hollow needle into the breast. Sometimes a small cut (about 3 mm) is made in the skin first to help facilitate needle placement. Through the hollow needle (co-axial technique) a thinner biopsy needle is placed, and a few tiny samples of tissue are obtained from the area of concern, typically 3-5 samples in total. The biopsy needle and tissue samples are passed through the outer hollow needle, which minimizes contact with the other breast tissue.