Needle Localizations are done using mammography or ultrasound, depending on how the area of abnormality is best seen. Once the patient has had a breast imaging procedure that has identified an abnormality, the patient is generally referred to a surgeon who specializes in breast surgery. The surgeon will determine that the area of abnormality must be biopsied.

Once this decision is made and the surgeon determines that you need this special type of biopsy, the surgeon sends your films to the Woman’s Diagnostic Center for the radiologist to review. The radiologist reviews the films and plans the best approach to do the biopsy. This type of biopsy can be done either under ultrasound or with X-ray. 

On the day of the procedure, the patient reports to the hospital’s SurgiCenter and then is transported to the Woman’s Diagnostic Center. The radiologist places a needle with a wire into the area of abnormality. The needle remains in the breast once it is in the area of interest. The patient returns to the SurgiCenter for the actual biopsy procedure. The needle is used as a guide by the surgeon to ensure that the correct area of abnormality is removed.