Specialized Women’s Biopsy Services in Colorado

An ultrasound-guided breast biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure used to test lumps or masses in the breast by extracting cells with a specialized needle. When a questionable or suspicious finding is discovered on imaging, the radiologist may recommend a breast needle biopsy to determine if the mass is benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancer). An imaging abnormality seen by ultrasound can be biopsied using ultrasound as a guide, even if it cannot be felt on clinical or self-breast examination. The physicians at The Women’s Imaging Center use their extensive clinical experience to determine the need for biopsy.

When suspicious findings appear on a breast MRI, a breast biopsy may be appropriate to further investigate. Our radiologists are experts at performing MRI-guided breast biopsies. The patient lies on the MRI imaging table and contrast injected shows the radiologist which areas of the breast show concentrate that dye. An MRI biopsy is performed to distinguish benign versus cancerous lesions.

Some thyroid nodules have suspicious characteristics, such as an irregular shape or calcifications, that will require a thyroid needle biopsy. Our specialists can help. The radiologist uses ultrasound to guide a very small needle into an anesthetized area of the neck to obtain cells for analysis. Most thyroid nodules are benign, but biopsy can distinguish benign from cancerous nodules.

Assessing for early changes in the breast tissue, a breast stereotactic biopsy localizes breast cluster calcifications in 3D and generates images from various angles with X-rays. The stereotactic procedure shows the radiologist where to biopsy these small calcifications, the size of grains of sand. The tissue sample is obtained through a small anesthetized nick on the skin, so small that no stitches are needed.