A breast biopsy is a procedure to remove a small sample of breast tissue. Most breast biopsies are NOT cancer. Most biopsies are recommended by a radiologist when something about the mammogram, sonogram, or MRI is indeterminate. The pathology report from the breast biopsy can help determine whether you need additional surgery or other treatment. To perform a biopsy, numbing medicine is placed into the breast so that pain and discomfort are minimal. After the biopsy, you may feel sore. A sports bra, tylenol, and ice help with the discomfort.
There are several types of breast biopsies:
Core needle biopsy. A radiologist or surgeon uses a thin, hollow needle to remove a small amount of tissue breast mass, calcifications, or other abnormality. Several samples about the size of a grain of rice, are collected. The pathologist looks at the breast cells under the microscope to make sure there is not any cancer or cells that may turn into cancer.
Stereotactic biopsy. This type of biopsy uses mammograms to pinpoint the necessary location, usually calcifications. For this procedure, you will lie down on a padded biopsy table with one of your breasts positioned in a hole in the table. Your breast is compressed while mammograms are taken to show the radiologist the exact location of the area to be biopsied The radiologist makes a small incision — about 1/4-inches long and a vacuum powered needle performs the biopsy.
MRI-guided biopsy. This type of biopsy is done under MRI — an imaging technique that captures cross-sectional images of your breast and combines them into 3-D images.
Before your breast biopsy, tell your doctor if you:
- Have any allergies
- Have taken aspirin in the last 7 days
- Are taking blood-thinning medications
- Are unable to lie on your stomach or back for an extended period of time.
Although a breast biopsy can be scary- getting a definitive answer about an imaging abnormality will hopefully give you (and your surgeon) peace of mind.
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