MRI-assisted Breast Biopsy

A new biopsy technique now makes it possible to obtain tissue samples during a vacuum-assisted breast biopsy procedure with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-assisted guidance. This method allows many samples to be taken through a single small incision in the skin, using only local anesthesia (numbing of the area). This biopsy technique is being studied in women with a personal or family history of breast cancer, those who have undergone previous breast surgery, and women with dense breast tissue who cannot get accurate screenings with tests such as ultrasound or mammograms.