Ultrasound-guided breast biopsy

A breast biopsy removes a sample of breast tissue that is looked at under a microscope to check for breast cancer. Ultrasound is used to show an image of the breast tissue during the biopsy. This is called an ultrasound-guided breast biopsy.

A breast biopsy is most often done to check a breast lump or look at a suspicious area found on a mammogram or other imaging. If there is a good chance that your doctor can get a sample without doing an open (surgical) biopsy, you can have a needle biopsy instead. For a needle breast biopsy, your doctor uses a needle to take a small sample of fluid or cells from the breast for testing.

When the biopsy area isn't easy to find, the breast biopsy needle is usually guided with ultrasound. An ultrasound uses sound waves to make a picture of the inside of the breast. The sound waves create a picture on a video monitor.

Ultrasound is used to guide the placement of the needle during the biopsy.

• You may be given a shot of medicine to numb the biopsy area on your breast.
• A warm gel will be spread on your breast.
• The ultrasound wand is pressed against your skin and gently moved around to find the place where the mammogram showed a problem. A picture of the breast can be seen on a video monitor.
• A needle or tiny probe is put through your skin into your breast tissue.
• If the lump is a cyst, the needle will take out fluid. If the lump is solid, the needle will take samples of tissue.
• The needle is removed and pressure is put on the needle site to stop any bleeding. The area is covered with a bandage.

If you take a medicine that prevents blood clots, your doctor may tell you to stop taking it before your test. Or your doctor may tell you to keep taking it. (These medicines include aspirin and other blood thinners.) Make sure that you understand exactly what your doctor wants you to do.