Blue Mountain Health System recently announced that it is now performing minimally invasive, MRI-guided breast biopsies for residents of Carbon and the surrounding counties.

Used in high risk cases where mammography is not sensitive enough to detect abnormalities, MRI-guided breast biopsy, which takes less than an hour, minimizes the need for a larger surgery, a bigger incision and more tissue removal.Recovery time is brief, sutures are not required, and patients can return to normal activities almost immediately.Surgeon Michael Martinez, MD, says the breast MRI, while not a routine screening tool, is appropriate in certain clinical situations, such as patients with a family or personal history of breast cancer, and in women who have dense breast tissue.Image-guided biopsies to remove suspicious-looking cells and small lesions can be done with mammograms, ultrasounds and MRIs. However, the MRI frequently provides better differentiation between abnormal (diseased) tissue and normal tissue."With our first case, the patient had an abnormal screening mammogram and ultrasound," says Martinez. "Prior to biopsy, the patient opted for a diagnostic MRI which visualized the problem area. The MRI-guided biopsy sampled the abnormal cells in the area of concern."Without the MRI, we would not have discovered the lesion. Her MRI did not correlate with her mammogram, as some things are only seen on an MRI. Thanks to this technology, we were able to confirm the suspicious area was not cancer."Prior to the new biopsy, BMHS physicians had to perform a conventional localization operation or send patients outside the area because it was believed to be unavailable locally."This procedure is part of the evolution of breast care and minimally invasive technology," says Martinez. "By combining the accuracy of the MRI with a needle biopsy, we can now precisely target suspicious masses, as well as areas of distortion and abnormal tissue change."At the close of the biopsy, the physician may insert a small marker at the site where tissue was removed so that it can be located in the future, if necessary. During follow-up, after a pathologist analyzes the samples, the patient learns if the tissue is cancerous or not.Martinez believes continuity of care is an important part of offering the MRI-guided breast biopsy in the Carbon County region."Now our patients can continue to see physicians they already know. Plus, they can be confident in the fact that the Blue Mountain Health System has a dedicated, experienced team of surgeons, radiologists, and technologists in place to do this procedure," he says.