Breast biopsies serve as an important diagnostic tool in characterizing breast lumps. Although doctors can determine the size, shape and some other characteristics of a breast lump using medical imaging, such as a mammogram, these technologies do not allow doctors to examine the cellular content of a breast lesion. By removing a small piece of tissue in a breast biopsy, doctors can examine the breast lump to diagnose the lesion and identify the presence of breast cancer. Doctors commonly use ultrasounds to assist in collecting a biopsy specimen.
Ultrasound-Guided Fine Needle Aspiration
An ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration is a relatively noninvasive biopsy that allows doctors to study, and sometimes treat, fluid-filled or solid breast masses. Fine needle aspirations use a small needle to pierce the skin and collect a small sample of fluid or solid tissue from inside a breast mass, and they are commonly used to diagnose and treat breast cysts, a type of breast mass. While doctors can perform biopsies on larger cysts close to the skin without guidance, small cysts deep within the breast require ultrasound-guidance assistance. Before the procedure, doctors will use ultrasound medical imaging to pinpoint the location of the cyst within the breast tissue, then insert a needle into the mass. After checking, via ultrasound, that the needle as reached the cyst, the doctor then drains the fluid, collapsing the cyst, then checks the drained fluid for the presence of abnormal cells that may indicate cancer. The procedure is relatively mild and does not typically leave a scar.
Ultrasound-Guided Core Needle Biopsy
Another common ultrasound-guided breast biopsy is a core biopsy. This procedure allows doctors to collect a larger sample of tissue than a fine needle aspiration, therefore allowing doctors to better characterize a breast tumor. Patients receiving a core biopsy first undergo breast imaging, allowing the doctors to create a three-dimensional view of the breast and locate the site of tumor growth. Doctors then use ultrasound to guide a core biopsy needle into the mass and collect a small slice of tissue for analysis. Doctors may collect a number of tissue samples this way to gain insight into the tumor's growth and invasive ability. Following the procedure, patients may notice some pain and bleeding but have little or no chance of developing scarring from the procedure, reports RadiologyInfo.net.
Ultrasound-Guided Axillary Lymph Node Dissection
A commonly performed ultrasound-guided biopsy is an axillary node lymph dissection, a removal of the lymph nodes in and around the arm. Since the lymph nodes represent an initial site of breast cancer spreading, doctors commonly perform this biopsy to assess the extent of breast cancer spread. The use of ultrasound imaging technology allows doctors to locate the lymph nodes in and around the breast, then surgically excise each node and test for the presence of breast cancer cells. A study published in "La Radiologia Medica" in 2005 indicates that ultrasound-guided axillary lymph node dissections play an important role in planning breast cancer treatment and can help identify candidates for breast-sparing surgery. Following the procedure, patients may develop side effects, such as a buildup of lymph fluid in the arm, since removing several lymph nodes disrupts the normal flow of lymph fluid.
