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The Women's Imaging Center offers breast ultrasound biopsies at five convienent locations throughout Colorado. Click here to learn more!

Breast Ultrasound Biopsy in Denver | Women's Health Services

Frequently Asked Questions About Stereotactic Breast Biopsy

A stereotactic breast biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses mammography to visualize calcifications and obtain a sample for testing.

Stereotactic Breast Biopsy

We serve patients in the Greater Denver area, with multiple locations for your convenience. Discover how our fellowship-trained radiologists provide patients with the best care in the industry through our stereotactic breast biopsy services.

Find Stereotactic Breast Biopsy near me

A stereotactic breast biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses magnified high-resolution radiology imaging and triangulation to localize abnormal findings called calcifications in 3D. To produce these images, a special X-ray tube inside the stereotactic table takes low-dose radiology images of the calcifications from various angles.

Radiologists specializing in women's imaging look for subtle tissue changes in the breast. These changes may be as obvious as a mass or as subtle as tiny white spots as small as grains of sand called microcalcifications. The term "microcalcifications" refers to the microscopic size of deposits composed of many kinds of minerals, not just calcium.

When calcifications are noted on a screening mammogram, you will need a diagnostic mammogram that uses a specialized mammogram technique called "magnification." The mammogram machine is fitted with a "magnification stand," which changes the focal spot of the mammogram and allows fine details in the breast, like calcifications, to be magnified. Although the mechanism is different, you can think of the process as similar to a "magnifying glass for the breast." 

Calcification & Biopsy of the Breast

At The Women’s Imaging Center, our technologists and physicians specialize in performing, detecting, and diagnosing breast conditions using the most advanced imaging and breast biopsy procedures. We have decades of experience treating all body organ systems and their interrelationships. Our specialization in breast health and women’s imaging creates the best opportunity to arrive at the most accurate diagnosis for women in Denver and beyond.

Our Approach to Breast Care

There are a few things we ask you to do to prepare before your procedure.

- Do not take medicines that can thin the blood unless you are directed to continue taking them by your referring physician. Some patients may have special reasons they need to stay on their blood thinners, such as a recent metal bore cardiac stent or clotting disorder. Always listen to your referring clinician regarding those decisions. We advise against taking aspirin if you are solely on it for prevention reasons.
- Do not use deodorant, body lotion, or powders on the breast, as these may produce false alarms as small aluminum or metallic particles may mimic calcifications.
- Refrain from any rigorous activities for one to two days after the procedure. So plan your tennis match either before or several days after your stereotactic breast biopsy. If you are planning an active vacation to include activities such as swimming, rigorous hiking, or skiing, consider postponing the biopsy until you return. Even though there will be only a tiny nick on the skin, we want to minimize the chance of soreness, infection, or bleeding at the site.

Preparing for the Biopsy

- You will lie on your abdomen on a special padded table that looks like a massage table.
- Several assistants will help with the procedure, including the technologist, the radiologist, and a patient navigator.
- The technologist will obtain a few low-dose mammography magnification views for targeting.
- The radiologist will anesthetize the skin with a tiny numbing needle and use stereotactic guidance to see where the calcifications are located in the 3D space.
- Another special needle called a “probe” is inserted at the target site, through which more anesthetic is given and a light vacuum is directed to the calcifications. The obtained sample will be X-rayed and sampled by the pathologist.

During the Biopsy

You will likely experience slight bruising of the breast for a few days. Some women may feel a lump under the biopsy site for up to a week. This lump is from the serum and blood that the body sends to the area as its natural way of healing. If the lump is the size of a small plum or larger, please reach out to our clinical care team and select the “physician/patient pathology” phone option to discuss any changes to your protocol.

Infection is extremely rare, but call us if you have a fever, chills, or any redness at the site of the biopsy. Some people may experience contact sensitivity from the tape on the skin, which appears red, but this is often associated with a geographic non-warm, non-streaking area that perfectly fits the line of the tape. If you are sensitive to the tape, remove it and wear a tight sports bra instead. Call your referring clinician or us if you have any concerns.

The results of your breast stereotactic biopsy will be available in 1-2 working days. The Women’s Imaging Center Patient Navigator and the Radiologist correlate the results and coordinate any follow-up care or management indicated. Follow-up magnification images after the biopsy may be recommended even for benign biopsies. A contrast breast MRI can help with treatment planning if the biopsy proves to be cancer. We will work with your referring clinician to coordinate an individualized treatment plan with surgeons or oncologists to fit your particular needs.

After the Biopsy

Stereotactic Breast Biopsy in Denver

<div class="content">The stereotactic breast biopsy is usually scheduled for a different day than the diagnostic mammogram workup to give you time and instructions to prepare.&nbsp;</div>

What to Expect With a Stereotactic Breast Biopsy

Breast Stereotactic Biopsy

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