Stereotactic breast biopsy: a less-invasive option

Until recently, a woman with a nonpalpable lesion detected on mammography had to undergo the emotional and physical trauma of surgical excision. However, a new technique, percutaneous core needle biopsy, guided by digital three-dimensional x-ray imaging, offers a reasonable alternative to standard surgical biopsy. This method produces no pseudolesions, subjects the patient to less physical and emotional trauma, is done on an outpatient basis with local anesthesia, and costs far less than the surgical method.