General Electric Company
Method and system for performing a guided biopsy using digital tomosynthesis

Abstract:

A method and system for performing a biopsy guided by a 3D image of the object obtained from digital tomosynthesis is performed. The method includes applying a compression paddle to an object; performing a tomosynthesis scan; reconstructing at least a portion of the scan; locating a lesion using a displayed or reprojected marker to determine a location of the lesion; correlating the location of the lesion in the scan to a marker on the compression paddle or tool holder; and proposing a needle entry point of a biopsy tool based off of the correlation so that a needle or penetration device will effectively reach the lesion or target if it is inserted at the proposed entry point. A system for performing a biopsy is further disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises: a tomosynthesis imaging apparatus for performing a tomosynthesis scan comprising an x-ray source and an x-ray detector; at least one marker; a compression paddle; a controller; and a display screen for displaying at least a portion of a reproduction of a tomosynthesis scan generated by the imaging apparatus, wherein (i) the at least one marker is displayed on the reproduction, the marker being used to determine a lesion location or target, and (ii) the controller correlates the lesion location or target with the at least one marker and generates a proposed needle entry point based on the correlation so that a needle or penetration device will effectively reach the lesion or target if it is inserted at the proposed entry point.