Rapid diagnostics: what to expect
About rapid diagnostics for Breast Cancer
You can come to the NKI Center for Early Diagnostics shortly after your referral due to symptoms or the results of the population screening program for breast cancer.
At the rapid diagnostics clinic for breast cancer, you will have a mammogram and/or an ultrasound, depending on factors like age and symptoms. A mammogram is a breast x-ray. Some people may need additional examinations, including a liquid or tissue biopsy. These procedures will follow on the same day.
Your radiologist will inform you immediately after the radiologic diagnostics. If imaging does not show abnormalities, you can go home. If we had to take a liquid biopsy, your nurse practitioner will discuss the results with you within two hours. If a tissue biopsy was taken, we will schedule an appointment with you after a week during which we will discuss the results.
Read more about our diagnostic examinations:
- Mammography
- Ultrasound
- Liquid biopsy
- Tissue biopsy
- Stereotactic biopsy
What is Mammography?
A mammography is an X-ray image of the breasts.
How is a Mammogram Performed?
You will be asked to remove your upper clothing in a special dressing room adjacent to the examination area. Then, you will be guided into the examination room by the technician.
The breast is placed between two plates that compress it. This spreads out the breast tissue, revealing any abnormalities on the image.
The technician will take at least two images of each breast: one from above and one from the side. Sometimes we will take additional images.
Many women find the compression uncomfortable or painful. The pressure lasts only a few seconds. If you experience pain during the procedure, please inform the technician, who will try to accommodate you as much as possible.
A mammogram will take about 15 minutes.
What is an Ultrasound?
Ultrasound is a technique used to visualize a body part using sound waves. The device emits inaudible sound waves that bounce back within your body, creating an image on the monitor. The radiologist applies a gel to the skin at the area currently being examined, and moves the device over the skin. You can usually watch the process on the monitor. If the radiologist detects any abnormalities, they may ask you whether they can perform a liquid or tissue biopsy immediately.
An ultrasound will take about 15 minutes.
What is a liquid biopsy?
During a liquid biopsy, the radiologist uses a thin needle to extract cells or fluid from the body. The exact location for the liquid buiopsy is usually determined with the help of an ultrasound. The extracted material is then examined in the laboratory. A pathologist will determine whether the findings are benign or malignant.
A liquid biopsy will take about 15-30 minutes.
After the liquid biopsy
The results of the biopsy will usually be available within an hour. Your nurse practitioner will discuss the results with you.
What is a tissue biopsy?
A tissue biopsy is a procedure in which a small piece of tissue is removed. This piece of tissue is called a sample. The tissue biopsy is generally performed under local anesthesia. The tissue sample will be taken through a hollow needle. To determine the precise location for the biopsy, we often use an ultrasound or a CT scan. A pathologist examines the biopsy sample in the laboratory to determine whether the abnormality is benign or malignant. Additionally, the pathologist can identify specific characteristics of any tumor, which helps us tailor a potential treatment to your situation.
A tissue biopsy will take about 15-45 minutes.
After the Biopsy
The results of a biopsy will generally be available after five weekdays. Your nurse practitioner will discuss the results with you.
What is a stereotactic biopsy?
In a stereotactic biopsy, small pieces of tissue (tissue samples) are taken from an abnormality in the breast. This procedure uses X-ray imaging to be able to locate the abnormality more precisely. The tissue sample will be analyzed at the laboratory to determine whether there are malignant cells. The stereotactic biopsy is performed in the main building of the Netherlands Cancer Institute.
A stereotactic biopsy will take about one hour.
After the stereotactic biopsy
The results of the biopsy will generally be available after five working days. Your nurse practitioner will discuss the results with you.
Results breast cancer diagnostics
Once all essential diagnostics have been performed, we will discuss the results with you. There are two options:
No breast cancer found
That’s good news. You can return to your general physician or participation in the population screening program.
Breast cancer was found
A breast cancer diagnosis can lead to many questions and uncertainties. We try to comfort you when we can by providing clear answers to any question you may have.
If you prefer, you can continue your treatment at the NKI. All patients will be discussed during a multidisciplinary team meeting. This means that many different specialists with knowledge about breast cancer discuss your case and find the best personalized treatment plan together. We will provide honest and clear explanations about every treatment option, the success rates, and the consequences. This allows you to make a well-informed decision for the treatment plan that suits you best.