Where do I go?
Please report to registration on the first floor of the main hospital building. After you register for your exam, you will be asked to wait in the registration area until one of the radiology nurses comes to meet you.
What can I expect at my appointment?
You will be asked to undress from the waist up and will be given a gown to wear. You will be asked to lie on your stomach on the biopsy table and the technologist will position your breast through a hole in the table.
Several mammography images will be taken to locate the area of abnormality in your breast tissue. The radiologist and your surgeon will look at the mammography images to target the affected area.
Your skin will be cleaned and the surgeon will numb the area. You may feel a burning sensation until the area is numb. A small nick will be made in your skin and a needle with be inserted. The surgeon uses the guidance of the computer system to take samples of the lesion.
In most cases, the tissue that is removed will be x-rayed to ensure the tissue contains part or the entire lesion. After the needle is removed, the radiology nurse will apply pressure and an ice pack.
This procedure does not require stitches. Instead, we use “steri strips”, a special kind of tape to hold the biopsy site together. You will be given instructions after the biopsy for breast care at home.
Do I need to do anything to prepare?
One of the radiology nurses will call you before your appointment. It is important to tell us all of the medicines that you take and if you are allergic to numbing medicines or adhesives.
Bring your mammogram films with you to your appointment. We will be unable to perform the biopsy procedure if we do not have your mammography films.
On the day of your biopsy:
- Have a light meal
- Wear a two-piece outfit since you will be asked to undress from your waist up
- Bring a comfortable bra
- Please bring someone with you to your appointment so that they may drive you home from your procedure
Just before your procedure, try to empty your bladder so that you will be more comfortable on the table.
What should I tell the technologist?
You should let the technologist know if you are or may be pregnant. Describe any unusual breast symptoms or problems to the mammography technologist. We will need to know of any prior surgeries, hormone use, and family history of breast cancer.
How will I get the results?
Your physician will receive pathology results and schedule an appointment in their office to discuss the results of your biopsy.
