What is an image-guided biopsy?
Image-guided biopsy is a refined version of traditional biopsy, in which we excise a small part of the lesion to examine it. It helps us to know whether the patient has cancer or is affected by other health conditions.
What is the procedure for an Image-guided biopsy?
- Administration of local anesthesia(numbing a small area ) and making an incision
- Use the image to locate the suspicious region and thereby remove a sample.
- Examination of the specimen by a pathologist.
Why should we do a biopsy?
Biopsies help in
- devising a treatment plan for cancer.
- checking the severity of the disease (aggressiveness of cancer)
- checking the progress of a treatment
Image-guided biopsy is a novel approach to increase the specificity of biopsy with the use of imaging techniques such as CT ( Computed tomography), US ( Ultrasound ), and MRI ( Magnetic resonance imaging ). It helps to view the nonpalpable areas such as the liver, lungs, kidney, or lymph nodes.
The type of image-guided biopsy utilized depends on the size and location of the affected area.
What are the advantages of Image-guided biopsy?
- Fewer scars and bruising
- Cost-effectiveness
- Less time consuming
- Minimum invasion
What are the types of image-guided biopsies?
Ultrasound(US)-guided biopsy
This technique is safe and much preferred as it does not use harmful ionizing radiation, which can increase secondary cancer. It utilizes sound waves of high frequency to get the image. After administration of local anesthesia ( that numbs a small area of the body), a biopsy needle can be inserted followed by the collection of samples. An ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy can remove a large area while fine needle aspiration helps remove a smaller part from the target tissue.
Computerized tomography(CT) guided biopsy:
It involves X-rays to guide the needle to the abnormal area of the body. After imaging, the tissue can be located. It gives a 3D image of the affected area with better resolution than Ultrasound. However, with CT-guided biopsy risk of getting secondary cancer increases.Although, the benefit of CT-guided biopsy outweighs the risk associated with it.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) Guided biopsy:
It uses an MRI scan to locate the abnormal area of the body when the lump is not visible by Ultrasound or CT scan.
Why MRI - guided biopsy preferable over CT or US-guided biopsy?
MRI is advantageous over other imaging techniques due to :
In US-guided biopsy, due to the low penetration power of sound waves, visualization of deeper tissues becomes difficult.
In CT-guided biopsy, the beam hardening artifacts affect the image quality.
Are there any risk factors in an image-guided biopsy?
Image-guided biopsies have minimum risk factors which include bruising and pain. In rare cases, it can also be hematoma and infection. Risk of infection increases in diabetic and immunocompromised patients.
Cost of an image-guided biopsy
Image-guided biopsy costs between Rs.5000 to 15000. It has minimum risk factors when performed by an experienced interventional radiologist.
CION cancer clinics aim to provide optimal biopsy treatment, where our interventional radiologists, assisted by oncologists, specialize in performing biopsies with years of experience.
If you want to schedule a biopsy with one of our experts, you can contact us at 1800 120 2676 or fill out a form at the following link