In certain cases, following the photographs and/or ultrasound, the radiologist decides to perform a puncture. A puncture is the removal of fluid or cells from the body using a hollow needle (puncture needle), after which the material obtained will (usually) be examined in the pathological cytology laboratory to make a diagnosis. A biopsy is an operation in which a pipe of tissue is obtained with a needle. Depending on the type of puncture and puncture site, the skin is anesthetized or not. If material can be obtained with 1 puncture with a thin needle, no anesthesia will be given beforehand. A biopsy is always given anesthesia.
If it is clear in advance that several punctures are needed to obtain material, the skin will be numbed beforehand. You will feel the first prick. This is the anesthetic prick or that one prick to obtain puncture material. This puncture is similar to a blood puncture.
The puncture or biopsy will be performed by a radiologist, assisted by a diagnostic radiologist. First, the radiologist will use ultrasound to determine the correct puncture site. After this, the skin will be disinfected. If necessary, you will then be given an anesthetic injection. After anesthesia, an opening of several millimeters is sometimes made with a knife. Then the puncture or biopsy takes place. Under ultrasound guidance, the radiologist follows where the needle goes. If necessary, the puncture will be repeated several times to obtain enough tissue.
Once enough material has been obtained, a very small marker (made of titanium) is sometimes left at the biopsy site. This is sometimes necessary so that the biopsied abnormality can later be found on mammography and ultrasound. Then the examination is finished. You are always referred after a puncture/biopsy to the breast clinic of a hospital (Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital) where the pathologist then examines whether the tissue is benign or malignant and any tumor characteristics are determined.
We strive to have punctures and biopsies performed directly at our location by the radiologist.
If you use blood thinners or have a clotting problem, you must notify the radiologist and/or diagnostic radiologist before the puncture.
Afterwards, a plaster will be applied to the puncture site. Particularly if the puncture was performed several times in a row, bruising may occur. If the anesthesia has worn off and you are in pain, you may take paracetamol, not aspirin or ibuprofen.
We recommend that you wear a sturdy bra immediately after the puncture, if you have one. Wear it day and night if necessary.
The tissue obtained by puncture/biopsy is taken to the pathology laboratory. The tissue will then be examined.
The results will be available after a few days and will be given to you at the hospital's mammography clinic. Any further treatment and preparation of a treatment plan will be done in cooperation with the hospital.