Interventional Procedures

Using either CT or Ultrasound to guide a specific needle, a solid core sample of abnormal tissue is obtained to send away to a pathologist to determine whether or not the tissue is benign or malignant. 

While these procedures produce a great sample for the pathologist. There can be an increased amount of bleeding around the biopsy site. However despite the bleeding risk, the discomfort during the procedure is minimal due to local anesthetic being used at the skin and around tissue being biopsied.

A very similar procedure to the Core Biopsy. A specific needle is guided by Ultrasound or CT to obtain a sample of tissue. The difference being the needle used is smaller, which In turn reduces bleeding. This technique is used on organs with a high blood supply such as thyroid gland. The smaller needle comes with the disadvantage of taking a smaller sample and which may not be a large enough size for the pathology team to accurately diagnose, in which case will require another sample being taken.  

High-speed biopsy is an ultrasonography- or tomosynthesis-guided outpatient biopsy procedure. The imaging method that best represents the finding is used. Under local anesthesia, a small hollow needle is advanced to the site of the tissue change in the breast and several small tissue samples (biopsies) are obtained. The position of the needle is checked during the procedure using ultrasound or stereotactic X-rays. Several cylinders of tissue are necessary to obtain a reliable histological diagnosis.

Before the examination:

• If you are allergic to local anesthetics, please inform us as early as possible.
• In the case of medication with blood-thinning drugs (Marcumar, Falithrom), the family doctor must switch to heparin about 10 days before the biopsy date. A current INR ≤ 2.0 must be available on the day of the examination.
• If you are taking other blood-thinning medication (aspirin/ASA, Clopidogrel/Plavix®, Xarelto®, Eliquis®, Pradaxa®), please let us know when you make your appointment. These drugs may need to be stopped before the biopsy
• Your other medications should be taken as usual.
• Heavy meals should be avoided before the biopsy.

The tomosynthesis-assisted vacuum suction biopsy is a computer-assisted outpatient biopsy procedure under imaging control by tomosynthesis or stereotaxy. The biopsy is performed on a special examination table in the prone position. Histological clarification of mammographically visible abnormalities such as microcalcifications, architectural defects and small lesions up to 10 mm in diameter.

Before the examination:

• If you are allergic to local anesthetics, please inform us as early as possible.
• In the case of medication with blood-thinning drugs (Marcumar, Falithrom), the family doctor must switch to heparin about 10 days before the biopsy date. A current INR ≤ 2.0 must be available on the day of the examination.
• If you are taking other blood-thinning medication (Clopidogrel/Plavix®, Xarelto®, Eliquis®, Pradaxa®), please let us know when you make your appointment. These drugs may need to be stopped before the biopsy.
• Your other medications should be taken as usual.
• Heavy meals should be avoided before the biopsy.

Before an operation, non-palpable focal findings or microcalcifications can be marked with the help of special, very fine marker wires under mammographic or sonographic control. The marking wire serves the surgeon as a guide to the non-palpable changes and is removed with the tissue to be examined.

During the investigation:

• First, a planning recording is made as sonography or as tomosynthesis with a special compression paddle. Then the finding to be marked is punctured (pierced) with a fine needle, inside which is a marking wire. When the needle tip is in the finding to be marked, the wire is released and is held within the finding with hooks. The needle is removed, the marking wire remains until the operation and is removed along with the surgical target.

After the examination:

• The correct position of the marker wire is confirmed by a mammogram. A bandage is then applied and the patient can leave the practice.

During a stereotactic breast biopsy, your breast will be firmly compressed between two plates. Breast X-rays (mammograms) are used to produce stereo images — images of the same area from different angles — to determine the exact location for the biopsy. A sample of breast tissue in the area of concern is then removed with a needle 

Before the examination read the below, and if any of the points apply, please inform your doctor and examination team if any of the following apply to you:

• Are you pregnant?
• Do you have any allergies (e.g. hay fever, asthma), hypersensitivity against medication, food, plasters, local anaesthetics?
• Have you previously experienced reactions to contrast media?
• Do you have any of the following diseases?
  
  • malignant blood diseases
  • overactive thyroid
  • increased tendency to bleed
  • heart disease
  • diabetes (diabetes mellitus)
  • kidney disease
  • gout
  • infectious diseases (e.g. hepatitis, HIV)
• Have you ever suffered from seizures or paralysis before?
• Do you have a previous intolerance to plasters, latex, medications, iodine, contrast media or any foods?
• Do you regularly take medication such as: Mercumar, Falithrom, Aspirin, Plavix, Heparin, Eliquis, Pradaxa, Lixiana, cardiovascular medication, any painkillers, anti-diabetic drugs, sleeping pills and / or sedatives, hormone preparations)?
• Have you ever had an angiography? If so, please bring existing documents with you.
• Have the vessels to be examined been X-rayed or operated on before? Please bring existing documents with you.

Before your Angiography examination please note:

Do not eat any solid food for at least 3 hours before your examination. You can consume drinks such as mineral water or sweetened tea but all other drinks and food will interfere with the process.

After your Angiography examination please note:

• If the procedure is done on a leg artery, you need bed rest and to keep the affected leg straight for at least 4-6 hours.
• If the procedure is done on an arm artery you will not be able to drive after the examination.
• Drink plenty of fluids post-examination so the contrast agent can quickly pass through the kidneys.

Do not drive or operate heavy machinery post-examination for at least 24 hours.