Biopsy and chest x-ray?

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arad
arad Member Posts: 3
edited August 2016 in Waiting for Test Results

Hello,

My doctor felt something during a regular exam and said it was probably nothing, but she ordered a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound just to be sure.  After the mammogram/ultrasound, the radiologist said there is an area of dense tissue that wasn't there previously.  She said it's probably nothing, but she ordered a stereotactic biopsy just to make sure.  The biopsy is on Monday.

Here's my question - When the radiology nurse was explaining the biopsy procedure to me, she said they will also take a chest x-ray.  Is it normal to have a chest x-ray in connection with a biopsy?


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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited August 2016

    Hi Arad-

    A stereotactic biopsy is done using mammography to pinpoint the area of the breast to be biopsied. A mammogram will be done from several angles to locate the mass, and then the needle will be inserted in the area located on the mammogram (http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types...). It's possible the radiology nurse used different terminology when describing the procedure to you.

    Good luck on your biopsy, please keep us posted!

    The Mods

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  • arad
    arad Member Posts: 3
    edited August 2016

    Thanks for your reply.  Yes, I hope the nurse was using "chest x-ray" to mean the mammography during the biopsy, since mammography is a kind of x-ray.  But I could have sworn she explained the whole stereotactic biopsy and then said, "and after the biopsy is all done, we'll take a chest x-ray."

    Oh well, I guess I will have to wait and ask at the biopsy on Monday.


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  • Djabi53
    Djabi53 Member Posts: 184
    edited August 2016

    I had a mammogram done immediately after the biopsy but no chest X-ray. Perhaps she misspoke and meant mammogram. I think the mammogram immediately after the biopsy is to image the breast with the marker in it and as a baseline but I'm not sure.

    Frankie

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  • wrenn
    wrenn Member Posts: 2,707
    edited August 2016

    I wonder if the images they took showed that there could be something involving the chest wall or lung so they want to rule that out? I would be surprised to see a radiologist use the wrong term.

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  • arad
    arad Member Posts: 3
    edited August 2016

    Thank you all for your replies.  It turns out it was what Djabi53 said  - after the biopsy they had me go back to the regular mammography machine and took some mammogram images of the breast with the titanium marker in it.  (I was worried it might be what wrenn said - something involving the chest wall or lung - but that didn't fit with everything else they were saying.)

    I haven't got detailed results of the biopsy yet, but the doctor left a message saying it was good news.  I guess I am part of the lucky 80-90% who have negative biopsies.  But I've also learned through this process that I have higher breast cancer risk than I realized.  This website has been helpful in understanding that and figuring out what to do about it in the future.

    I am fortunate to have a negative result, and also to live in a country that even has mammograms and biopsies.  I am celebrating by making a donation to a favorite charity in Africa that helps moms who have zero healthcare.

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