1. Breast Cancer Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the Breast Cancer Quiz
3. Disease Prevention in Women Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

View Full Profile

Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

View Full Profile

In this Article

• What is a breast biopsy?
• What is the purpose of a breast biopsy?
• What specialties of physicians and practitioners do breast biopsies?
• Who should have a breast biopsy?
• In what setting is the breast biopsy done?
• What may a benign result indicate?
• How is a suspicious breast growth discovered?
• What should the patient tell the physician about the growth?
• How does a physician confirm the presence of a breast growth?
• Is anesthesia needed for a biopsy?
• What about pain and complications?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of non-surgical procedures versus surgical breast biopsies?
• What are the different types of breast biopsy procedures and what do they involve?
• How is a fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) done?
• How is a core needle biopsy (CNB) done?
• How is a vacuum-assisted breast biopsy done?
• How is an excision biopsy of the breast done?
• What is the time frame for receiving the results of a breast biopsy?
• Breast Biopsy At A Glance
• Patient Comments: Breast Biopsy - Experience
• Find a local Surgeon in your town
• Breast Biopsy Index

Is anesthesia needed for a biopsy?

For non-surgical biopsies, the patient may need no anesthesia at all or just a local anesthesia (one that numbs the suspicious area only). Sometimes, a patient receives a sedative (calming drug) with the local anesthesia.

For surgical biopsies, the patient may receive a local anesthesia (with or without a sedative) or general anesthesia (one that induces sleep). Patients requiring general anesthesia may have to fast 8 to 12 hours before undergoing a biopsy.

What about pain and complications?

Except for a minor sting from the injected anesthesia, patients usually feel no pain before or during a procedure. After a procedure, some patients may experience some soreness and pain. Usually, an over-the-counter drug is sufficient to alleviate the discomfort.

The risk of complications, such as infection and bleeding, is small for non-surgical procedures and slightly higher for surgical procedures.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of non-surgical procedures versus surgical breast biopsies?

Generally, non-surgical biopsies are less stressful, do not disfigure the skin, leave no internal scar to interfere with the accuracy of future mammograms, and minimize the risk of complications.

However, non-surgical biopsies are not always as reliable as surgical biopsies in producing a conclusive diagnosis. For this reason, some patients who undergo a non-surgical biopsy must also undergo a follow-up surgical biopsy.

What are the different types of breast biopsy procedures and what do they involve?

Breast biopsy procedures include:

• fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB),
  
  
• core needle biopsy (CNB),
  
  
• vacuum-assisted breast biopsy, and
  
  
• excision biopsy (surgery).