Patent US 4,875,478

A method and apparatus for locating breast lesions in three dimensions and placing the tip of a biopsy needle in the lesion includes a compression apparatus having radiopaque grids on top and bottom compression plates. Two rotated x-ray views are taken, one on either side of the vertical, such that the grids are reproduced on the exposures. The coordinates of the lesions on the grids are plotted as intersecting lines to graphically determine the X, Y and Z coordinates of the lesion. The apparatus also includes a biopsy needle holder and guide which is adjustable according to the graphically determined coordinates and which allows release of the needle from the apparatus while maintaining its position in the lesion.