A punch biopsy of the breast is used to clarify findings from other diagnostic tools. It is used to determine whether the detected change in breast tissue is benign or malignant. A biopsy, or tissue removal, from the breast is a minimally invasive procedure. It is performed under local anesthesia and on an outpatient basis.
Few minutes
Duration of examination
exact
Determination of malignancy
Where can you have a punch biopsy of the breast performed in Munich?
Punch biopsy of the breast is necessary to have diagnostic clarity. Simply ask for an appointment with one of our specialists at Radiologie München.
How does a punch biopsy work?
First, the focal finding to be clarified is visualized on ultrasound. After local anesthesia, the biopsy needle is guided to the focal lesion under ultrasound guidance so that a punch mechanism can be used to remove a sample. This is repeated several times until sufficient tissue has been removed. However, the skin is pierced only once during the punch biopsy.
Occasionally, a vacuum biopsy may also be used to remove tissue. This method is used to remove larger amounts of tissue. The procedure is also performed with a hollow needle that sucks in tissue through negative pressure. Although the stresses of vacuum biopsy are comparable – local anesthesia, etc. – however, the removal takes significantly longer and leaves a small scar. This is why the punch biopsy is used at Radiologie München.
Is there anything to consider before a tissue biopsy?
An informed medical consultation is required prior to performing a biopsy. The physician will inform you about the exact procedure and the potential side effects before and after the treatment. Feel free to bring up your questions and fears in the process. Our specialists are ready to answer your questions. Finally, a clarification sheet is filled out.
If you are taking blood thinners, these must be discontinued after consultation with your attending physician. Otherwise, problems could arise during the biopsy. Known allergies to medications or anesthetics should also be made known to us prior to treatment.
What is the procedure for a punch biopsy of the breast?
After the examination by sonograph (ultrasound), the exact biopsy position is determined. Here, the image is used for real-time tissue sampling. This ensures high accuracy of the biopsy. After the effectiveness of local anesthesia, the punch is inserted into the breast by means of the hollow needle.
The attending physician then triggers the punch between three to five times to obtain a sufficient amount of specimen. Only slight feelings of pressure in the chest area will be noticeable. After removal of the hollow needle, the puncture site is compressed and closed with a bandage.
Usually the injection site heals within a few days. Due to the biopsy, the breast may be sensitive to pressure in the first few days after the procedure.