Breast Biopsy is a fine needle BIOPSY can be taken from a lump in the breast to determine its nature and indicate whether it is benign or malignant The procedure takes 5 to 10 minutes, is performed with local anaesthetic, and causes only a little discomfort.

Purpose

• To detect or to rule out malignant bone lesions when radiographic findings are normal but cancer is confirmed or suspected.
• To monitor degenerative bone disorders.
• To diagnose broken bones, such as a hip fracture or a stress fracture, not clearly seen on X-ray.
• To evaluate unexplained bone pain.
• Detect damage to the bones caused by infection or other conditions, such as Paget’s disease.

Precautions

• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not have this test.
• A patient who is unable to remain still for an extended period of time may require sedation for a bone scan.
• Allergic reactions to radionuclides may occur.

Patient preparation

• No special preparation is required on your part before a bone scan, though you may be asked to remove jewelry or other metal objects.
• Make sure the patient or a family member has signed a consent form.
• Because the patient is required to drink 4 to 6 glasses of water or tea in the interval between injection of the tracer and the actual scanning, advise him not to drink large amounts of fluids before the test.
• You can eat or drink anything you like before the test.
• After the patient receives an I.V. injection of the tracer and imaging agent, encourage him to increase his intake of fluids for the next 1 to 3 hours to facilitate renal clearance of the circulating free tracer.

Equipment

• Bone mineral tracer, 3-ml syringe, 21G needle, 70% povidoneiodine solution, sterile sponge, tourniquet, scanning camera.

What the risks are?

• If you are pregnant or nursing, the test may be postponed to prevent exposing the fetus to radiation.
• Occasionally, some soreness or swelling may develop at the injection site.
• A person may develop rash, or anaphylaxis.
• There is a slight risk of infection or bleeding with any intravenous injection.
• Some pediatric experts believe that the radiation used in a bone scan is too high for children, so they recommend a bone scan only when one is absolutely necessary.