Patient information

Your doctor may recommend a breast biopsy to examine the growth more closely than possible with a mammogram. Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center offers stereotactic breast biopsy, an alternative to the traditional surgical biopsy. The procedure uses a special imaging technology to accurately target a questionable lesion, with significantly less pain and no scarring.

Fine needle aspiration of the breast is a procedure that is performed using a needle to draw out a small amount of cells or fluid from the breast. The area of concern is anesthetized before the procedure, with very little discomfort involved. It generally leaves no scar and is considered a simple office procedure, performed using ultrasound guidance.

A ductogram is performed to help us better understand the causes of nipple discharge and to detect possible problems with your breast ducts. If your doctor has referred you for a ductogram, please call 704-210-7762 to schedule your appointment today.

A procedure, called sentinel node biopsy, is used to determine if cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes. This surgical procedure may be performed during the initial diagnostic period to aid in staging of the breast cancer. This procedure involves injecting a dye and/or radioactive substance near the tumor. This injection helps to locate the lymph node closest to the tumor (sentinel node) - the one that is most likely to have cancer cells present if the cancer has spread. The surgeon removes the lymph node that absorbs the dye and radioactive substance and sends it to the pathologist to examine it closely for the presence of cancer cells.

This is an alternative to a more invasive surgical biopsy. The area of concern is anesthetized before the procedure. There is only mild discomfort and generally no scarring of the breasts. The breast is gently compressed for this procedure. The stereotactically guided breast biopsy uses computer technology that enables our radiologists to locate and obtain a sample of the precise center of the area in question. The procedure uses x-rays and a special biopsy needle.

This is an alternative to a more invasive surgical biopsy. The area of concern is anesthetized before the procedure. There is only mild discomfort and generally no scarring of the breasts. An ultrasound scan detects breast changes by sending high-frequency sound waves into the breast. The echo patterns from the sound waves are converted into an image of the breast's interior. The radiologist will insert the biopsy needle and remove samples of tissue, using the ultrasound for guidance.