What type of biopsy is guided by mammography?

• A. Core biopsy
• B. Open excisional biopsy
• C. Mammotome biopsy
• D. Fine needle aspiration

Answer: (C)

A mammotome biopsy, also known as a vacuum-assisted biopsy, is designed to be performed under imaging guidance, particularly mammography. This type of biopsy helps in obtaining large tissue samples from a suspicious area detected during a mammogram. The use of mammography allows for precise targeting of the lesion, ensuring that the biopsy is taken from the correct location, which increases the diagnostic accuracy and provides a more comprehensive sample of the tissue.

In contrast, other types of biopsies, while they may use imaging guidance, typically do not exclusively rely on mammography for guidance. For instance, core biopsies can be guided by ultrasound or MRI as well. Open excisional biopsies are more invasive surgical procedures and often do not use imaging guidance during the actual excision. Fine needle aspiration may involve ultrasound guidance but is less about mammography, focusing more on smaller lesions or cysts.

Overall, the mammotome biopsy's integration with mammographic guidance makes it a key choice for targeting lesions in breast tissue effectively.