Women classified at high risk for breast cancer now have the chance to find the smallest abnormality at the earliest possible state of development and have it biopsied in just over half an hour without leaving the MRI suite and without undergoing surgery for a diagnosis.

Traditionally, breast biopsies meant surgery, particularly in women with a family history of breast cancer, dense breast tissue or women with breast implants.

The high-risk population is often evaluated with MRI to detect suspicious lesions or breast cancer at the earliest possible stage. MRI-guided breast biopsy with vacuum assistance -- or ATEC -- has proven to be as reliable as open surgery for acquiring tissue samples that offer definitive pathological results.

The unique technology is most effective in those high-risk cases because often a breast MRI is needed for detection, and the vacuum-assisted biopsy completes the process.

The biopsy brings out a more intact core tissue sample, more tissue, has only one needle cut, the equipment is lighter and easier for the physician to guide through the procedure, and it takes an hour off current manual, or spring-loaded, biopsy procedures. It is more accurate in its work, particularly because it is paired with the breast MRI system for guidance.