Fine Needle Aspiration of Cysts/Nodes
A Fine Needle Aspiration is a type of biopsy in which a thin needle is inserted into a fluid filled cyst or a lymph node to extract fluid or cells. The procedure is done using a local anaesthetic to minimise the discomfort and samples are then sent to the laboratory for further analysis.
Core Biopsies
[Sonar Guidance]
Core biopsies are performed when a breast image shows a mass, a cluster of micro calcifications, or an area of abnormal tissue.
The radiologist uses a series of x-rays to determine the precise location of the area, and, using a local anaesthetic to minimise pain, extracts a sample using a special biopsy needle. The tissue sample is then sent to pathology for analysis.
Preoperative Localisation
[Sonar Guidance]
A preoperative marker is used when an abnormal area is found on a mammogram but cannot be felt on examination. This may require removal of the area, and a tiny marker will help the surgeon to find the area more easily.
A tiny marker is inserted under your skin into the area of breast that is causing the concern, helping to mark it. A surgeon then uses the marker to find the abnormal spot in your breast so that he or she can remove it.