Biopsy Devices Revolutionizing Breast Cancer Diagnosis

Biopsy has been one the most-impactful diagnosis techniques for cancer detection. The procedure is prominently used to diagnose breast, prostate, and skin cancer. A staggering increase in the number of cancer cases globally is anticipated to drive biopsy device demand. It has been estimated cancer incidence rates will rise by 62 percent between 2018 and 2040.

Consumer preference across the globe is increasingly shifting toward minimally invasive surgical procedures. Growing awareness about these procedures’ benefits such as smaller incisions, faster recovery times, and reduced pain and scarring has been a major factor fueling the trend.

Global Market Insights Inc., forecasts the worldwide biopsy device market size will be worth more than $3 billion by 2024. The rising occurrence of numerous chronic and infectious diseases worldwide will augment the biopsy device market share in the coming years.

Breast Cancer Prevalence Will Be a Major Growth Propellant
Breast cancer is a modern epidemic and the increasing frequency of the disease worldwide is significantly recognized. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breast cancer impacts nearly 2.1 million women annually and is the most frequently diagnosed form of cancer among women. However, it is continuously becoming a more preventable disease, thanks to rapid developments in medical science.

Early detection is critical to improve cancer outcomes and increase the survival rate. According to healthcare professionals and experts, a biopsy is the only diagnostic procedure that can accurately determine the presence of cancerous cells in the body.

What Percentage of Breast Biopsies Are Cancer?
A breast biopsy is basically a procedure in which a tissue, or sometimes a fluid, is removed from the suspicious area. The acquired cells are then examined closely under a microscope and further tested by a radiologist or a surgeon to check for breast cancer presence. Statistics suggest approximately 20 percent of these biopsies yield a breast cancer diagnosis.

Different Types of Breast Biopsies
Physicians generally recommend the most minimally-invasive biopsy procedure based on the size and location of the tumor. Following are the most commonly used breast biopsies:

• Fine needle breast biopsy—A fine needle aspiration (FNA) is generally recommended when the mass is easily seen on ultrasound or easily felt by the physician. A surgeon or radiologist performs a fine needle biopsy.
• Core needle breast biopsy—The technique has widely been adopted as a less invasive biopsy option. It is often the preferred type of biopsy as it doesn’t require surgery and removes more breast tissue than an FNA biopsy. In addition, the rate of complications, risk of bleeding, infections, and hematoma formation are considerably low.
• Stereotactic breast biopsy—Stereotactic procedures are performed when suspicious microcalcifications are observed on a mammogram or when the abnormality is so small a physician can’t feel it. A special type of biopsy needle designed to acquire tissue samples is guided to the suspicious mass.
• Vacuum assisted breast biopsy—It is continuously being used as a safe and minimally invasive biopsy procedure. Vacuum-assisted core biopsy is an extremely effective alternative to surgical biopsy. It allows precise location of the suspicious area via image guidance so samples from only that region are acquired.

Top Breast Biopsy Devices Currently on the Market
The risk for breast cancers increases with age. In fact, statistical data suggests most breast cancers are diagnosed after 50. The growing geriatric population worldwide and subsequent rise in breast cancer cases will lead to increased biopsy device adoption of biopsy. Below are some of the leading breast biopsy devices on the market:

• Hologic’s Sertera—An extremely lightweight biopsy needle designed and optimized to be completely armed and fired with one hand. In an initial trial, about 95 percent of physicians reported the device is easy to arm and fire and facilitates one-hand operation.
• Inrad’s PreciseCore—This biopsy needle from boasts an ergonomic design that doesn’t advance when fired. It is easy to grip and offers a top-positioned arming button. This design minimizes the risks of damage to deeper themes and offers excellent precision.
• Argon Medical’s BioPince Ultra—This uses a tri-axial core cut and capture system to acquire diagnostic quality full core specimens. It significantly minimizes the risk of tissue fragmentation and crush artifact. In addition, it comes with a forward trigger which provides flexibility in approach.

Biopsies are becoming less invasive and more accurate. Technological biopsy device innovations, along with surging adoption of vacuum-assisted core needle biopsy devices, offer minimal invasiveness. Major advances in imaging technologies such as ultrasound and MRI for reliable and accurate lesion and tumor diagnosis will accelerate the adoption of biopsy procedures.

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A graduate in electronics and telecommunication engineering, Hrishikesh Kadam has always found writing fascinating. Driven by a never-ending passion for content creation combined with a bit of experience in writing personal blogs, Hrishikesh blends his technical knowledge and expertise to pen down articles for numerous online portals.