A breast biopsy is a procedure to remove a sample of breast tissue. A special needle is inserted into the breast under image guidance, and a tissue sample is removed and sent to a pathologist for testing. The results will advise whether or not the tissue is cancerous, and will help your doctor determine your treatment plan. 

Drainage is a procedure performed to remove a collection of fluid in the body. Fluid can build up in different parts of the body for various reasons, including infection, after trauma or surgery, joint swelling, lymph fluid and more. Local anaesthetic will numb the site before a needle will be inserted into the area to be drained. It is guided into place under imaging, normally ultrasound or CT. A plastic tube may also be inserted to drain the fluid.

Fine needle aspiration (FNA) and biopsies are similar procedures which involve taking a small amount of tissue of fluid from your body through a needle. The tissue samples can be used to help diagnose a range of conditions including cancer, infections, or non-cancerous masses.

Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) Biopsy

This minimally invasive biopsy procedure involves inserting a fine needle into the affected area, and removing a small sample of cells. This is then sent to a pathologist for testing.

FNAs can be performed on almost any part of the body, but are commonly used to identify masses in the breast, thyroid and lymph nodes. FNAs can be performed using image guidance, which helps the radiologist ensure the needle is positioned accurately, and to help reach deeper parts of the body. If the sample tissue is not sufficient enough for a diagnosis, you may be referred for a repeat FNA or a core biopsy. 

Core Biopsy

Core biopsies are performed using a specialised needle to allow for a solid ‘core’ of tissue to be removed during the procedure, in comparison to the smaller sample of cells removed during an FNA biopsy.  The core sample is generally sufficient enough for a definitive diagnosis.