If you are 40 years of age or older, you have probably experienced mammogram screenings. Mammograms are recommended yearly to help in the early detection of breast cancer. We all hope our test results will return normal. However, if an abnormal area is detected on your mammogram, your doctor will advise you to have a breast biopsy.
St. Mary’s Good Samaritan now offers patients the most advanced technology available to aid in the detection and diagnosis of breast cancer--the Stereotactic Breast Biopsy. “This advanced biopsy technique is a state-of-the-art procedure designed to improve the quality, accuracy, and ease of breast biopsies,” says Dr. Ryan Willis, a board-certified Radiologist at St. Mary’s Good Samaritan. The computer-assisted technology maps the precise site of a breast abnormality before a tissue sample is taken for biopsy. “Biopsy samples can be obtained through a very small incision in the skin, minimizing the procedure time, trauma to the tissue, and time required for the wound to heal.” For maximum patient comfort, the unique design of the system allows a woman to be in a horizontal position while the biopsy is being performed.
Stereotactic breast biopsy provides a number of important benefits for women:
- The minimally invasive procedure offers a safe alternative to open surgical biopsy;
- A tiny incision is all that is needed for insertion of the biopsy instrument, allowing the procedure to be performed comfortably under local anesthesia with minimal tissue trauma;
- A computer-guided targeting system assures the suspicious areas are precisely targeted for efficient retrieval of tissue specimens;
- Most procedures can be completed in one hour or less.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women, exceeded only by lung cancer. However, early detection has been shown to dramatically increase survival rates. “A breast biopsy procedure is a crucial step in diagnosing breast cancer at an early stage, when the chance for cure is greatest,” adds Dr. Willis.
Breast abnormalities that require biopsy are frequently discovered during annual screening mammography, in many cases when the area is still too small to be detected by touch. To schedule a mammogram, call our Scheduling Office toll-free at: 1-866-466-8655.
