Ultrasound-guided biopsies, aspirations, injections and localisation

Ultrasound shows the tip of a needle live and guides it precisely to the area to be treated or sampled. These procedures are performed by the doctor, usually under local anaesthetic: - biopsy: removal of a small piece of a nodule or lump (breast, thyroid, liver, lymph node…) for laboratory analysis; - aspiration: drawing off fluid from a cyst or an effusion, to analyse it or relieve symptoms; - injection: a medicine is injected next to a tendon or into a painful joint; - hookwire placement: a very thin wire is placed in a small breast lesion to guide the surgeon during the operation; - localisation: marking a lesion or the puncture site on the skin before a procedure or surgery. The procedure is explained beforehand and your consent is obtained. The result of a biopsy is sent after laboratory analysis.