SiteSelect: minimally invasive excision of breast lesions

The goal of screening mammograms is to provide early detection of breast cancer. As mammography technology improves, the ability to detect smaller and smaller suspicious lesions is increased. However, as mammography cannot always differentiate between malignant and benign lesions, biopsies are often needed. With the decreasing size of lesions seen on mammography, the size of the biopsy specimen needed for diagnosis also decreases. Thus, a smaller amount of normal breast tissue needs to be removed during a biopsy. For a majority of the small lesions, excision with a small margin of normal breast tissue is sufficient for diagnosis. The SiteSelect procedure utilizes stereotactic guidance to excise completely a tumor that is noted on a mammogram. The procedure can be performed under local anesthesia through a minimal incision (usually 1.5 cm). The SiteSelect biopsy procedure completely excises small tumors noted on the mammogram with minimal trauma to the breast tissue and with excellent cosmetic results. It is well tolerated by patients. For tumors requiring only local excision, such as atypical ductal hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ, the SiteSelect procedure may be the only diagnostic procedure required.