Breast Biopsy breast biopsy is performed to remove some cells—either surgically or through a less invasive procedure involving a hollow needle—from a suspicious area in the breast and examine them under a microscope to determine a diagnosis. Image-guided needle biopsy is not designed to remove the entire lesion, but most of a very small lesion may be removed in the process of biopsy.

An MRI-guided breast biopsy is most helpful when MR imaging shows a breast abnormality such as:

• a suspicious mass not identified by other imaging techniques
• an area of distortion
• an area of abnormal tissue change

Prior to a needle biopsy, you should report to your doctor all medications that you are taking, including herbal supplements, and if you have any allergies, especially to anesthesia. Your physician will advise you to stop taking aspirin or a blood thinner three days before your procedure.

Guidelines about eating and drinking before an MRI exam vary with the specific exam and also with the facility. For some types of exams, you will be asked to fast for 8-12 hours. Unless you are told otherwise, you may follow your regular daily routine and take medications as usual.

The radiologist should also know if you have any serious health problems or if you have recently had surgery. Some conditions, such as severe kidney disease may prevent you from being given contrast material for an MRI. If there is a history of kidney disease, it may be necessary to perform a blood test to determine whether the kidneys are functioning adequately. You may want to have a relative or friend accompany you and drive you home afterward. This is recommended if you have been sedated.

In order to reduce the risk of bleeding during the procedure, we recommend that patients not take any aspirin product for 3 days prior to the procedure and not take any ibuprofen product (such as Advil or Motrin) for 24 hours prior to the procedure. If you are on prescription blood thinning medication such as coumadin or aspirin, please consult your physician prior to scheduling this exam.

Women should always inform their physician or technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant.

• In a fine needle aspiration, a fine gauge needle and a syringe withdraw fluid or clusters of cells.



• In a core needle biopsy, the automated mechanism is activated, moving the needle forward and filling the needle trough, or shallow receptacle, with 'cores' of breast tissue. The outer sheath instantly moves forward to cut the tissue and keep it in the trough. This process is repeated three to six times.