The Mammotome breast biopsy is a minimally invasive, ultrasound-guided form of biopsy.  It involves only local anesthetic, and is highly accurate.  If you and your physician determine that a mammotome biopsy is right for you, here is what you can expect:

A member of the Medical Imaging Client Services team will give you some helpful information when you schedule your appointment.  Please don’t hesitate to ask questions at this time. Our schedulers and clinical technologists are available to help you.

During the procedure, a local anesthetic is injected into the breast. Click here to see the Mammotome Breast Biopsy System (pdf)>> 

This will likely be the extent of the discomfort you will feel during the exam.  The radiologist will the make a tiny incision in the breast, followed by a single insertion of an ultrasound guided probe. When the radiologist locates the lesion within the breast, he or she removes tissue with the probe by suctioning out the tissue to be biopsied.   Pressure is applied to the area for several minutes, and sterile, surgical bandages are used.  There are no stitches.  You may return to work the following day, provided that you don’t lift heavy objects.  Recovery time will be much less than if you had had a traditional, surgical biopsy.  There will be minimal bruising and tenderness.

You will need to have a follow up appointment at your referring physician’s office in a few days to discuss the results of the biopsy.  You will also have a follow up appointment at Medical Imaging, so that a physician may check your recovery.

See a video about this revolutionary procedure here >>

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