What is a Stereotactic Needle Biopsy?

A stereotactic needle biopsy is a type of breast biopsy which is conducted with the assistance of mammography to ensure that the biopsy sample is taken from the correct location. This procedure takes place in the radiology suite at a hospital or a clinic, and is usually performed by a radiologist who has specialized experience and training. It takes around an hour, and results can take a few days to several weeks, depending on whether the biopsy sample needs to be sent out for examination or not.

In a stereotactic needle biopsy, the patient remains awake while the breast to be biopsied is given a shot of local anesthetic. The patient lays on an exam table outfitted with a mammography machine, and several images are taken of the affected area. Then, a core needle or vacuum assisted biopsy device is placed, using the images to ensure that the tip of the needle is in the suspect area so that a useful sample is taken. Commonly, several biopsy samples are taken.

Stereotactic needle biopsies are performed when a suspicious area in the breast cannot be palpated by hand, but can be identified with mammography. This can happen when an abnormality in the breast is very small or deep inside the breast. Sometimes these growths are benign, or they may even be artifacts on an imaging study, meaning that they appear once as a result of faulty equipment, conditions, or placement and then disappear on future studies.

However, there's no way to tell from a single mammogram whether or not a suspicious area is an area of concern. As a result, a doctor may recommend biopsy to learn more about what is happening. Stereotactic needle biopsy is less invasive than a surgical biopsy in which a doctor performs surgery to access the area of concern, and it is extremely precise since it is guided with imaging equipment. This makes the procedure more pleasant for the patient and also makes it more likely to have useful results.

There are some risks to stereotactic needle biopsy. It can cause bleeding inside the breast, which may lead to complications for the patient. It also exposes the patient to risk of infection, just like any other puncture wound. Some studies have also suggested that performing a biopsy can increase the risk of spreading or “seeding” cancer cells with the tip of the needle, potentially causing problems with cancer treatment down the line. Patients should discuss the procedure's risks with their doctors and receive information about the experience of the radiologist, the complication rate experienced at the facility where the stereotactic needle biopsy is being performed, and when the results will be returned.