Breast biopsies have just gotten a major upgrade at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital (MFSH).
Although a necessary procedure in the fight against breast cancer, breast biopsies have long been an uncomfortable process for patients. Women would need to come in hours earlier than their biopsy in order to have another procedure done. Doctors would perform a mammogram to confirm where the tissue they want to extract is, then numb the breast and place a long hooked needle that would “grab” onto that tissue. This needle would be left to stick out of the skin a few inches, and then the patient would be sent to the operating room.
“They would have a drape over their breast after the procedure, but it was still an uncomfortable process going through the halls of the hospital. Not to mention just having a needle sticking out of your skin,” said Maegan Draper, manager of Imaging Services at DeGraff Medical Park and Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital. “Some women even had the procedure done at other facilities and would drive to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital with this needle sticking out of them.”
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What had previously been an invasive, sometimes uncomfortable procedure is now being revolutionized with the help of a small pill-like tracker. Staff and patients are already noticing the difference.
“EnVisio SmartClip is a non-radioactive, wireless marker,” said Chelsey Ciambella, MD. “As a surgeon, the innovative, real-time 3D navigation enables more precise and accurate localization of tumors or target tissue. This enables superior margin control with the ultimate goal of lower re-excision rates. Precision in localization for breast conserving surgery is crucial. It allows surgeons to accurately identify cancerous tissue to obtain clear margins while maximizing the amount of healthy tissue preserved to improve cosmetic outcomes.”
The tiny pill-shaped trackers can be inserted into the breast in an outpatient procedure weeks in advance from the actual biopsy. Not only are they more accurate, but they also offer a more comfortable solution for patients.
“They come in, insert the trackers – which are smaller with nothing sticking out – and the patient can go about their life. The biopsy can even be completed later in the week. It’s just so much more comfortable for the patients,” Draper said.
Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital is proud to provide this revolutionary technology in women’s health care, making the fight against breast cancer easier and more comfortable than ever.
