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Breast Biopsy
"Not all biopsies are alike. The kind you have will depend on several things, including the size of the suspicious area, where it's located, how troublesome it appears, and your preferences." —Michael Morich, MD, medical director, Kearney Breast Center
If your doctor says you need a breast biopsy, it's natural to be worried. But rest assured, having a breast biopsy does not necessarily mean you have cancer. It means the doctor wants to remove and examine tissue, cells or fluid more closely.
Four out of every five women in the U.S. who have breast biopsies ultimately get good news — they find out that they don't have cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. But this doesn't mean you can afford to skip your biopsy.
Not all biopsies are alike. The kind you have will depend on several things, including the size of the suspicious area, where it's located, how troublesome it appears, and your preferences.
| Biopsy |
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| Fine needle aspiration |
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This is the simplest type of biopsy, and it's often used to evaluate a lump that can be felt. Your doctor will use a very thin needle and syringe to collect a small amount of tissue or cells. If the lump is a harmless cyst, chances are, fluid taken during the aspiration will cause the lump to collapse. |
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| Core needle aspiration |
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A doctor will use a slightly larger, hollow needle to remove small cylinders, or cores, of tissue. |
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| Stereotactic core needle biopsy |
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When a mass can't be felt, the doctor may use breast x-rays to guide the needle into place. This type of biopsy may be used to sample tiny deposits of calcium in the breast that sometimes are red flags for cancer. |
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| Surgical biopsy |
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A surgeon will cut away all or part of an abnormal area. If the lesion can be felt by examination, excisional biopsy generally is a brief, straightforward surgery performed in an operating room. |
Do not hesitate to ask questions about the advantages and disadvantages of each procedure. Your healthcare provider will explain which is best for your situation.
Learn More
Contact Us
Kearney Breast Center
200 NE Mother Joseph Place, Suite 420
Vancouver, WA 98665
360.514.6161 (Breast Center main number)
360.514.6164 (Nurse Navigator)
360.891.2642 (Radiologists)
360.213.9955 or 503.808.9803 (Southwest Medical Group Surgical Specialists)
360.989.3494 (Southwest Medical Group Plastic Surgery)
Published in Southwest Health, May/June 2009
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