Equipment check on the stereotactic biopsy table

Stereotactic biopsy, also known as stereotactic core biopsy, is a

biopsy A biopsy is a medical test commonly performed by a surgeon, interventional radiologist, an interventional radiologist, or an interventional cardiology, interventional cardiologist. The process involves the extraction of sampling (medicine), sample ...

procedure that uses a computer and imaging performed in at least two planes to localize a target lesion (such as a

tumor A neoplasm () is a type of abnormal and excessive growth of tissue. The process that occurs to form or produce a neoplasm is called neoplasia. The growth of a neoplasm is uncoordinated with that of the normal surrounding tissue, and persists ...

or microcalcifications in the breast) in three-dimensional space and guide the removal of tissue for examination by a

pathologist Pathology is the study of disease. The word ''pathology'' also refers to the study of disease in general, incorporating a wide range of biology research fields and medical practices. However, when used in the context of modern medical treatme ...

under a

microscope A microscope () is a laboratory equipment, laboratory instrument used to examine objects that are too small to be seen by the naked eye. Microscopy is the science of investigating small objects and structures using a microscope. Microscopic ...

. Stereotactic core biopsy makes use of the underlying principle of

parallax Parallax is a displacement or difference in the apparent position of an object viewed along two different sightline, lines of sight and is measured by the angle or half-angle of inclination between those two lines. Due to perspective (graphica ...

to determine the depth or "Z-dimension" of the target lesion. Stereotactic core biopsy is extensively used by

radiologists Radiology ( ) is the medical specialty that uses medical imaging to diagnose diseases and guide treatment within the bodies of humans and other animals. It began with radiography (which is why its name has a root referring to radiation), but tod ...

specializing in

breast imaging In medicine, breast imaging is a sub-speciality of diagnostic radiology that involves imaging of the breasts for screening or diagnostic purposes. There are various methods of breast imaging using a variety of technologies as described in detail ...

to obtain tissue samples containing

microcalcification Microcalcifications are tiny Calculus (medicine), deposits of calcium salts that are too small to be felt but can be detected by medical imaging, imaging. They can be scattered throughout the mammary gland, or occur in clusters. Microcalcificat ...

s, which can be an early sign of

breast cancer Breast cancer is a cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a Breast lump, lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, Milk-rejection sign, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipp ...

Uses

X-ray-guided stereotactic biopsy is used for impalpable lesions (cannot be felt manually) that are also not visible on ultrasound. A stereotactic biopsy may be used, with x-ray guidance, for performing a fine needle aspiration for cytology and needle core biopsy to evaluate a breast lesion. However, that type of biopsy is also sometimes performed without any imaging guidance, and typically, stereotactic guidance is used for core biopsies or vacuum-assisted mammotomy. Stereotactic core biopsy is necessary for evaluating atypical appearing calcifications found on mammogram of the breast. If the calcifications exhibit the classic "teacup" appearance of benign fibrocystic changes, then a biopsy is usually not necessary.

References

External links

Stereotactic biopsy
entry in the public domain NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms Pathology {{Oncology-stub

Uses

References

Further reading

External links