Ellen Shaw de Paredes

Institute for Women's Imaging

Physicians Services

Percutaneous Breast Biopsy

In the age of medicine when mammographic screening has become the standard of care to detect early breast cancer, biopsies are often necessary to diagnose or exclude breast cancer. Percutaneous breast biopsy has revolutionized the management of clinically occult, mammographically detected abnormalities. Many of the techniques for percutaneous breast biopsy were developed by Dr. Paredes nearly two decades ago.

In our facility, needle biopsies are performed with state of the art equipment using ultrasound or stereotactic guidance. The techniques we use include fine needle aspiration with cytology, cyst aspiration, core needle biopsy and vacuum assisted needle sampling of breast abnormalities. Highly precise equipment allows for accurate targeting and sampling of the abnormal area. Samples are sent to an experienced breast pathologist and the patient is notified of the results in one to two days.