What is a breast biopsy?
If a suspicious lesion (tissue abnormality) is found in your breast, your doctor will
typically request that a biopsy be performed. A biopsy is the removal of all or part of a
lesion for testing. This is the only way to determine if a lesion is benign (not
cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). While as many as 1 million American women undergo breast biopsies each year, approximately 80% are benign.
How is a breast biopsy performed?
There are 3 common biopsy techniques for nonpalpable lesions (ones that can't be felt): needle localization with excisional biopsy, core needle biopsy and fine needle aspiration. Of these, the most common is excisional biopsy followed by core needle biopsy. Both are used when the lesion in question is a solid mass.
Excisional biopsy-A two-step process that begins in a radiology suite, where a
radiologist manually places a wire marker into the breast to identify the location of the
lesion. The patient is then moved to a surgical suite, where the surgeon, using the wire
marker as a guide, finds the specimen and removes it through an open incision. Because existing technology sometimes makes it difficult to place the wire marker with a high degree of accuracy, to be safe, doctors sometimes remove more tissue @ necessary-often the size of a golf ball or larger. This can leave the patient with a large scar and potentially permanent disfigurement.
Core needle biopsy-Uses a needle with a special cutting edge to remove tiny samples of tissue from the breast. Because the needle is small, it must be inserted several times to ensure an accurate biopsy. if the results show that the sample is cancerous, another operation is needed to remove the remainder of the lesion.
How is the ABBI* procedure performed?
The ABBI* procedure is a one-step process, performed under local anesthesia, that
combines the placement of the wire marker and removal of the entire specimen into one minimally invasive procedure. The patient is positioned on the ABBI* system table and her breast is compressed and immobilized for enhanced imaging and accuracy Using stereotactic technology (X-rays), the surgeon locates the lesion, numbs the area with a local anesthetic and inserts a marking needle into the breast to "tag" the precise location. Using the ABBI* biopsy device, the surgeon gently inserts a cannula (a narrow, tube-like device) into the breast to remove the entire specimen. The small opening is closed with a few stitches.
What are the benefits of the ABBI* procedure over excisional blow?
Reduced pain and scarring. The ABBI* system's stereotactic technology enables the
surgeon to identify the targeted tissue within I mm of accuracy and provides visualization throughout the procedure. As a result, the surgeon is able to remove the entire specimen while minimizing the amount of healthy tissue taken. This can mean less pain, disfigurement and scarring.
Quicker return to normal activities. Unlike an excisional biopsy, which may require the
use of a general anesthetic or heavy sedation, the ABBI* procedure requires only a local anesthetic. Most ABBI* patients experience minimal disruption in their lives and can even drive themselves home following the procedure.
Reduced costs. The ABBI* procedure reduces procedural time and operating room costs because it combines the two-step process of an excisional biopsy into one minimally invasive procedure.
What are the benefits of the ABBI* procedure over core needle biopsy?
Removes entire specimen. For an accurate biopsy, the core needle technique requires the surgeon to insert a needle several times to remove a series of small tissue samples. In contrast, with the ABBI* procedure, the surgeon inserts the instrument only once to remove the entire specimen.
Reduced potential for additional surgery. If a core needle biopsy is malignant, another
operation is needed to remove the remainder of the lesion. With the ABBI* procedure, if cancer is found, but a margin of tissue surrounding the specimen is "clean," it
is up to the clinical judgment of the surgeon to decide whether further surgical
intervention is needed.
Am I a candidate for an ABBI* procedure?
Only a thorough medical evaluation by your gynecologist or primary care physician, in
consultation with a surgeon qualified in minimally invasive breast biopsy, can determine if the ABBI* procedure is appropriate for you.
