Minimally Invasive Breast Surgery

We are committed to the concept of minimally invasive breast surgery. Our philosophy is to perform the minimal amount of surgery necessary to obtain a reliable diagnosis or treatment. To that end, we are constantly learning new techniques in this ever-changing field of breast surgery.

We strive to be able to offer your patients the very latest in minimally invasive diagnostic and treatment alternatives. Of course, the choice is always hers, and all approaches to diagnosis and treatment will always be discussed and offered.

Some of the minimally invasive procedures we offer are listed below:

Ultrasound and Ultrasound-Guided Procedures >> Certain breast lesions are better imaged with high-resolution ultrasound, which we have on site. If an abnormality is present which requires a biopsy, this procedure can often be done using ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy. If the biopsy finds that the lesion needs to be removed, this can be done using intra-operative ultrasound to guide surgical removal. < Close Stereotactic Breast Biopsy (non surgical) >> Your patient's screening and diagnostic evaluation may reveal an abnormality which requires a breast biopsy. In the past, this required a surgical biopsy. Now, many of these abnormalities can be biopsied using the latest in non-surgical diagnostic techniques: Stereotactic Breast Biopsy. This technique allows the tissue in the abnormal area to be sampled and biopsied with precision equal to that of surgical biopsy, but with minimal invasion. This technique is performed simply, quickly, and virtually painlessly. For some breast abnormalities, stereotactic biopsy may not be the best or only choice: Some lesions may be biopsied using ultrasound guidance, others are best approached surgically. We will discuss all options together with the patient and help him or her choose the most appropriate method. < Close Skin Sparing Mastectomy >> We offer breast preservation whenever possible. Sometimes this is not advisable or preferred by the patient. In those cases, we offer skin sparing mastectomy with reconstruction. This approach achieves cosmetic results that are as close to normal as is possible. < Close Sentinel lymph node biopsy >> We offer sentinel lymph node biopsy as an alternative to traditional axillary dissection. Our practice has been one of the pioneers in the country in development of this new technique, and the procedure will be performed by one of the most experienced teams in the nation. < Close

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Screening mammography is the cornerstone of early breast cancer detection. We offer on-site screening mammography as well as diagnostic mammography. We review all of our patients' mammograms, and if there are any questions about suspected abnormalities on their mammograms, we will review the findings of the radiologist with them. It is important that when your patient comes to our office we have her mammography films, as this is one of the important elements used in the evaluation of her problem. In some instances, that will not be possible -- she should discuss those circumstances with our staff.

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Mammography alone fails to detect about 10% of breast abnormalities. For this reason, we are committed to a three-prong approach to breast cancer screening: Mammography, breast physical exam, and breast self exam (BSE). Patients will undergo a careful breast examination and will receive instruction for breast self-examination.

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There are many unanswered questions in the field of breast disease. Breast Care Specialists continues to be involved in several clinical research trials to help find new techniques and technologies to fight breast disease and breast cancer. We may discuss trials with your patient as part of her treatment, and we have a dedicated Clinical Research Coordinator on the staff who can explain any trials we discuss. Of course, patient safety is our first concern, and all research is done in accordance with the very strict National Cancer Institute guidelines and supervision. The Institutional Review Board, which reviews all studies for appropriateness and patient safety, oversees all of our research.

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