The unit is run by:
Dr Monika Szymik, MD, PhD
Specialist radiologist
- ultrasound examinations
- fine-needle biopsies
- core needle biopsies of the breast
Consultation hours:
Mondays (1st and 3rd Monday of each month) from 15:00
☎You can book an appointment by phone: +48 502 056 976
The quality of an ultrasound (USG) examination depends on both the experience of the radiologist and the class of the ultrasound machine. A radiologist is arguably the best qualified to perform ultrasound examinations, having completed a training programme lasting several years during specialisation.
Our centre has a modern Logiq Pro 6 ultrasound machine. Besides us, this machine has recently been purchased by, among others, the National Institute of Oncology (NIO), Gliwice, the Brothers Hospitallers (Bonifratrzy) Hospital in Katowice and the Central Clinical Hospital in Katowice.
The Unit also performs ultrasound-guided fine-needle and core needle biopsies.
Fine-needle biopsy is a very common method of diagnosing, among other things, tumours of the breast, thyroid and lymph nodes. Under ultrasound guidance, the doctor selects the most representative area of the tumour and inserts a thin needle. The material obtained is then smeared onto a glass slide and fixed with a suitable fluid. Fine-needle biopsy is a preliminary test and in many cases is not sufficient to decide on the choice of treatment.
Core needle biopsy represents a step up in quality. Through a 2–3 mm incision in the skin, a needle is inserted into the tumour (also under ultrasound guidance) and a special automatic device is used to take very thin tissue samples from the tumour. The material is fixed and, after a few days, examined HISTOPATHOLOGICALLY. Core needle biopsy allows more precise immunohistochemical diagnosis and gives a precise result, considerably better than fine-needle biopsy. In the diagnosis of breast cancer, core needle biopsy is an indispensable tool that allows assessment of oestrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and HER-2. Determining receptor status is particularly important in patients starting preoperative chemotherapy. Such treatment often leads to complete regression of the tumour, and if the receptors were not determined before treatment, it is no longer possible to do so afterwards.
We focus on high-quality ultrasound equipment and on the professionalism and experience of the radiologist.