Method and device to examine a tissue sample

An apparatus to examine a tissue sample, comprising:

• an x-ray imaging apparatus comprising an x-ray source that emits x-ray radiation, a radiation detector, and a compression plate that compresses an examination subject between the compression plate and the radiation detector;
• a biopsy apparatus configured to conduct a biopsy of the compressed examination subject to extract a tissue sample from an extraction location within the examination subject, using x-ray images generated with said x-ray imaging system;
• a sample container into which the tissue sample is transported from said extraction while the examination subject is still compressed, said x-ray imaging apparatus comprising a location at which said sample container is situated that is outside of said extraction location but within said field of view of said x-ray source;
• said x-ray imaging apparatus being configured to acquire a 3D data set that includes both said extraction region and said extracted tissue sample in said sample container at said location outside of said extraction location while said examination subject is still compressed, by moving said x-ray source through a plurality of positions and irradiating said tissue sample and said region from each of those positions to generate a plurality of common projections of both the extraction region and the extracted tissue sample;
• a computer configured to reconstruct slice images of the tissue sample and the extraction region from said common projections while said examination subject is still compressed;
• and
• said computer being configured to display the reconstructed slice images at a display screen while said examination subject is still compressed.