Occasionally, a fine needle aspiration biopsy may not provide a definitive answer or may suggest there is an underlying abnormality present which requires further evaluation.
Method
- Using mammographic (stereotactic) or ultrasound guidance a core biopsy of an abnormality in the breast is obtained.
- The core biopsy is achieved by using a needle to obtain a very small core of tissue.
- The core of tissue is sent to the pathologist to identify the nature of the lesion.
- Several specimens are usually obtained depending on the type of abnormality being evaluated.
Time
The core biopsy procedure takes approximately 45 minutes, and is performed using local anaesthetic.
