Imaging-Guided Biopsies

A biopsy can be taken from any organ for diagnostic purposes. Lung, liver, kidney, prostate, breast, or thyroid. The principle behind almost all biopsies is the same. After local anesthesia, the needle is advanced into the mass under imaging guidance, and a sample is taken. For example, I'll discuss thyroid and prostate biopsies here.

THYROID BIOPSY
A thyroid biopsy is performed under ultrasound guidance within 10-15 minutes. Ultrasound guidance eliminates the possibility of injury to blood vessels or other organs. A pathologist is present in the same room during the biopsy and performs the microscopic examination. The radiologist performing the biopsy is immediately informed of the adequacy of the sample obtained through microscopic examination. This prevents repeat procedures and completes the procedure safely and securely.

Prostate biopsy
This procedure involves taking tissue from the prostate under ultrasound guidance to diagnose prostate cancer. A pathologist makes a diagnosis of prostate cancer by histopathologically evaluating the tissue.

It is performed through the rectum. A specially designed probe is inserted into the rectum for prostate evaluation, and the prostate is evaluated with ultrasound. Local anesthesia is administered to the prostate during this procedure. Following the ultrasound evaluation, at least six tissue samples, 1 mm in diameter and 15-20 mm in length, are taken from appropriate sites using a special biopsy needle.

Due to the local anesthesia administered, there is no pain during the procedure.

Is any preparation necessary for a prostate biopsy?
Since the biopsy will be performed through the rectum, some preparation is essential.
The rectum must be empty during the biopsy. Therefore, either a laxative is used the day before or an enema is administered the morning of the biopsy. For those with chronic constipation, both procedures can be performed simultaneously.

Unless your doctor recommends otherwise, the following are recommended for preparation before the biopsy:

You do not need to arrive for the examination on an empty stomach. The patient can have a normal breakfast on the morning of the biopsy and take any medications they regularly take. If the biopsy is scheduled for the afternoon, they can eat lunch. Blood may be present in the urine and stool for a few days after the biopsy, but this will resolve on its own.

You can obtain more detailed information from the doctor performing the biopsy.

What is a prostate biopsy, and how is it performed?
It is a procedure in which tissue is removed from the prostate under ultrasound guidance to diagnose prostate cancer. A pathologist makes a diagnosis of prostate cancer by performing a histopathological evaluation of the tissue taken from the prostate.

It is performed through the rectum. A specially designed probe is inserted into the rectum for prostate evaluation, and the prostate is evaluated with ultrasound. Local anesthesia is administered to the prostate during this procedure. Following the ultrasound evaluation, at least six tissue samples, 1 mm in diameter and 15-20 mm in length, are taken from appropriate locations using a special biopsy needle.

Due to the local anesthesia, the procedure is painless.

Is any preparation necessary for a prostate biopsy?
Since the biopsy will be performed through the rectum, some preparation is essential.
The rectum is expected to be empty during the biopsy. Therefore, a laxative is used either the day before or an enema is administered the morning of the biopsy. For those with chronic constipation, a combination of these can be used.

Unless your doctor recommends otherwise, pre-biopsy preparation includes:

Antibiotics (Rocephin 1g intramuscularly) are administered intravenously 1 hour before the biopsy, one Tarivid 400 mg tablet on the evening of the biopsy, and one Tarivid 400 mg tablet (5 tablets total) is taken for two days following the biopsy. Despite this treatment, a fever may occur, although very rarely. If your fever exceeds 38.5°C within 24-48 hours, be sure to contact your doctor.

Breast Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy
A fine needle aspiration biopsy is a relatively simple and painless procedure that takes approximately 15 minutes. It requires no preparation. The biopsy material is sent to the pathology laboratory, and a pathology result is available within 4-5 days. Fine needle biopsy carries no risks in experienced hands. Complications are not expected.

Breast Fine Needle (Tru-Cut) Biopsy
A breast cutting needle, also known as a core needle biopsy, is similar to a fine needle aspiration biopsy, except for the needle used, which is thicker. It requires no preparation. The biopsy material is sent to the pathology laboratory, and a pathology result is available within 4-5 days. Core needle biopsy carries no serious risks in experienced hands. Complications such as bleeding and infection are very rare.

Vacuum-Assisted Breast Biopsy
This is a slightly improved version of a core needle biopsy. To ensure that all tissue in an area is sampled, we use the vacuum-assisted biopsy technique. Because the biopsy needle is supported by a vacuum device, this technique allows for the extraction of thicker tissue samples. It's even possible to remove the entire lesion. If the pathology results are benign, treatment can be performed in the same session.