Interventional Radiology | New Biopsy Techniques to Diagnose Cancer
The team of interventional radiologists at Concord Hospital uses innovative biopsy techniques to identify cancer in patients. There are two types of biopsies, fine needle aspiration and core biopsy.
Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy
Fine needle aspiration biopsy uses special small needles to collect cells to analyze for cancer. A fine needle collects tissue from a specific area of concern, so it can be examined further. This is the most common technique used by physicians to diagnose most types of cancer. Whereas a vacuum-assisted biopsy uses a suction device to collect tissue through a specially-designed needle. This technique is used to collect multiple or large samples from the same biopsy site. The area of interest is identified with imaging techniques, including ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or even X-rays or fluoroscopy.
An ultrasound is used to locate a tumor inside the body by pinpointing its exact location. It uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of internal organs.
A CT or CAT scan takes pictures of the inside of the body using X-rays captured from several angles. Areas commonly used to scan for cancer using this technique include the head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis or limbs.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is another test used to locate a tumor inside the body to determine whether or not it’s cancerous. Physicians also use MRIs to obtain more information about a tumor once it’s found, such as size and location, to plan treatment, as well as to determine if treatment is working. An MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves to produce detailed, computer-generated images of the body. Physicians will use an MRI to take pictures of the brain, spinal column, abdomen, chest and breast to evaluate for cancer.
Core Needle Biopsy
A core needle biopsy requires a larger needle to extract a larger tissue sample. This method is used when a larger sample size is needed to help make a diagnosis of the tissue being tested. The specimen is reviewed immediately by the pathology team at Concord Hospital to determine adequacy as well as to avoid a repeat biopsy of the same site. This step is not always performed at other hospitals.
As interventional radiology continues to expand at Concord Hospital, there are new techniques to assist individuals both diagnostically and therapeutically. There is a field within interventional radiology called interventional oncology where physicians are performing many diagnostic procedures by sampling different organ tissues to determine a cancer diagnosis. The new techniques are performed using a CAT scan, an ultrasound, or in some cases, cone beam CT imaging – a relatively new state-of-the-art technology-based CT scan. These leading-edge techniques enable physicians to treat cancer effectively with minimally invasive techniques, decreasing complications and limiting hospital stays in addition to less recovery time.
These new diagnostic techniques assist with treating lesions using microwave ablation and cryoablation to treat tumors in the liver, kidney and soft tissue. Cryoablation is a method in which freezing the cancerous tissue destroys the cancer cells without surgery and no harm to adjacent normal tissue.
“The results from these innovative techniques have been compared to doing this conventionally using surgical techniques with equal or similar outcomes with results one would expect to see using surgery,” said Ari Salis, MD, interventional radiologist, chair of radiology and director of interventional radiology.
