About the Mammotome® Breast Biopsy System

Prone Biopsy
A Only a handful of breast units in the UK have this state-of-the-art facility.
It enables our breast clinic and breast screening unit to achieve a near 100% histological diagnosis without having to operate and obtain a biopsy.

This means many women with benign conditions can avoid surgery altogether and for those confirmed to have breast cancer a single surgical strategy can be carefully planned.
There will always be some occasions when a second operation is advised once the results of the first are available, but this is unusual.


How the prone table mammotome works

It is used mostly for women found to have areas of microcalcification on screening mammograms. These show up as small very bright white dots on the x-ray. It can represent pre-cancerous change or early breast cancer although many prove to be benign. If the area is visible on ultrasound Dr Ali Sever is very skilled at obtaining accurate core biopsy under ultrasound guidance. If not, the prone table provides a much better way of getting a sample instead of attempting it on the normal upright mammogram machine. This can lead to a lot of discomfort and sometimes fainting. The only other alternative is to insert a special guidewire and then perform an old-fashioned operative biopsy under general anaesthetic. We were able to give this up several years ago.

Since commencing this technological advance in February 2000 Dr Ali Sever has completed over 700 image guided FNA and core biopsies per year. It forms a small but very important part of his breast work. No one in the UK has greater expertise with mammotome biopsies.

Women undergoing this test lie comfortably on their front with the breast to be examined placed through a special aperture in the examination table.

After pinpointing the abnormality digitally and being given a local anaesthetic, the mammotome needle is advanced into the breast under computerised control. Unlike any other core biopsy needles it does not have to be taken in and out, but is left in place and cores are taken sequentially by rotating the needle and using a vacuum to retrieve the specimens.

We have also used this equipment to totally remove benign breast lumps when women want to be rid of the lump, but also want to avoid an open operation, a general anaesthetic and a scar.

If you would like to know more about this procedure you can ring the breast care nurses 0n 01622 224067