has anyone out there undergone this procedure?
i found a lump in my breast, and it was diagnosed, via ultrasound, as fibroadenoma. My doctors want it out by using this procedure.
Can anyone tell me what to expect? I've done research, but i can't find any personal accounts of it, only medical jargon. I would really appreciate it.
Thanks in advance!! I have not had an u/s guided needle biopsy, but I have helped my radiologist preform many of them. I would say that if I am ever in need of a breast biopsy, I would get an u/s guided or stereotactic guided needle biopsy. From my experience, patients have very few complaints of anything. There are many advantages to this procedure:
1) It is a highly directed biopsy, meaning the doctor can see the needle advancing to exactly the correct area which we need to get tissue samples from. If you have an open biopsy, there is quite a bit of tissue removed. A pathologist cannot look at every cell in that sample. Since this guided biopsy only removes the tissue in question, the pathology results are much more accurate.
2) Very little scarring. An open biopsy will leave a large scar which can mess up future mammograms. A scar and a breast cancer look very similar on film. And of course, no scar = a more eye pleasing breast....
3) Cost. Open biopsies are expensive. Costs include the surgeon, anethesiology, OR room, etc. The far majority of biopsies of any type are benign (non-cancerous). An u/s guided biopsy is a far cheaper (yet more accurate procedure).
4) No risks of anethestic reactions (being "put to sleep")....No risks unless you are allergic to Lidocaine (very similar to Novicane that the dentist uses).
5) Recovery time is minimal. Most of our patients return to work the next day. Time of recovery is shorter and post-procedure discomfort is practically nil. We do ask our patients to return the next day to check the biopsy site for early signs of infection (which we have never had in our practice), so therefore, I get to talk to them about their experiences 24 hours post-procedure.
You will be laying on your back, your skin will be cleansed with Betadine, you will be numbed with the Lidocaine. The Radiologist will make a very small cut in the skin, maybe half an inch long. He will then direct the biopsy needle directly to the area of question as he watches on the ultrasound screen. He will engage the needle which will then take small tissue samples. The samples are the diameter of angel hair pasta and about 2 inches long. Usually, 5-6 samples are taken of the area. When he is done, the u/s tech will hold pressure on the area to help reduce bruising and bleeding. Steri-strips (small pieces of tape) are put over the small incision and an ice pack is placed in your bra, and you are done.
Patients really don't complain about pain. I know it sounds scary, but in reality, it is a fairly simple procedure. Good luck..... Yes I have had the same problem.I had a biopsy surgically and it was benign.The relief was amazing.Don't worry you will be relieved that you had it looked at no matter what the outcome. |
