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Breast Biopsy - Medical Animation
MEDICAL ANIMATION TRANSCRIPT: A breast biopsy usually is performed to determine if an abnormal area or lump in your breast is cancerous. In this procedure, a tissue sample of the area of concern is removed so it can be examined by a pathologist. Breast biopsy may involve one of three main techniques-- fine needle aspiration biopsy, core needle biopsy, or surgical biopsy. Your doctor will choose the technique that best fits your situation. During a fine needle aspiration biopsy, your doctor will insert a needle into your breast. Some form of guidance, such as an ultrasound probe, will be used to guide the needle to the correct area. Then, fluid or a small sample of tissue will be removed. A core needle biopsy is done to remove several small pieces of tissue or cores of tissue from the breast. It may be guided using one of several techniques. During a stereotactic core needle biopsy, you will lie face down on a table with your breast inserted through a hole in the table. Your doctor will inject a local anesthetic to numb the area. Then using a digital mammogram as a guide, your doctor will insert a hollow needle into the area of concern. Several small cylinders of tissue will be removed for examination. During an ultrasound guided core needle biopsy, your doctor will use an ultrasound probe to locate the area of concern. A hollow needle will be inserted to remove several cores of tissue. Fine needle aspiration and core needle biopsies involve removing small samples of fluid or tissue using a needle. However if an area of concern detected by mammogram or ultrasound is not accessible by a core needle biopsy, or if your physician wants to remove the entire area, a surgical biopsy may be recommended. A surgical biopsy is done in an operating room using two techniques, excisional biopsy and incisional biopsy. During an excisional biopsy, your surgeon will make an incision in the breast and remove the entire mass. At the end of the procedure, the incision will be closed. Your surgeon will perform an incisional biopsy if only a small part of the area of concern needs to be removed, usually to make a diagnosis. At the end of the procedure, the incision will be closed. If the abnormality cannot be felt, needle localization will be used to mark the location of the area of concern. During this procedure, your radiologist will insert a hook wire into the breast through a needle under mammogram or ultrasound guidance in order to mark the area. The needle will be removed, but the wire will stay in place. You will then go to the operating room where your surgeon will make an incision in the breast. He or she will follow the wire to locate the targeted area. Then remove it. An x-ray will be taken of your breast to make sure the targeted area has been removed. Then your surgeon will close the incision.
"[Your staff] was extremely efficient, cooperative and gracious and [their]
efforts produced a demonstrative exhibit that we used effectively throughout
our trial. The jury verdict of $3,165,000.00 was, in no small measure, due
to the impact of the demonstrative evidence. You may be sure that we will
call again."
David J. Dean
Sullivan Papain Block McGrath & Cannavo, P.C.
New York, NY
"This past year, your company prepared three medical illustrations for our cases; two in which we received six figure awards; one in which we received a substantial seven figure award. I believe in large part, the amounts obtained were due to the vivid illustrations of my clients' injuries and the impact on the finder of fact."
Donald W. Marcari
Marcari Russotto & Spencer, P.C.
Chesapeake, VA
"Medical illustrations are essential during trial for any medical malpractice case. The people at MLA have the uncanny ability of creating medical illustrations that simplify the most complex of medical concepts and human anatomy to a lay audience. The exhibits of MLA allow experts to easily describe complex concepts and human anatomy in a manner that could
not be done otherwise.
In addition, their custom illustrations show in great detail the extent of
injuries suffered and the devastating effects they have had on the client's
anatomy. These custom illustration can show, side by side, the body before
and after a catastrophic injury. The effect of this juxtaposition is
unmatched by any testimony that can be adduced at the time of trial.
Even jurors after trial have commented on the ease with which they grasp
medical concepts and anatomy once the MLA exhibits were introduced and
used by my experts. Even judges who have "seen it all" are thoroughly
impressed by the detail and sophistication of the illustrations.
"Thank you for the wonderful illustrations. The case resulted in a defense verdict last Friday. I know [our medical expert witness] presented some challenges for you and I appreciate how you were able to work with him."
Robert F. Donnelly
Goodman Allen & Filetti, PLLC
Richmond, VA
Medical Legal Art creates medical demonstrative evidence (medical
illustrations, drawings, pictures, graphics, charts, medical animations,
anatomical models, and interactive presentations) for use during legal
proceedings, including research, demand letters, client conferences,
depositions, arbitrations, mediations, settlement conferences, mock jury
trials and for use in the courtroom. We do not provide legal or medical
advice. If you have legal questions, you should find a lawyer with whom you
can discuss your case issues. If you have medical questions, you should seek the advice of a healthcare provider.
