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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.

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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.

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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

How is an excision biopsy of the breast done?

An excision (surgical) biopsy can also be done in different ways:

• Surgical biopsy of palpable growths (lumpectomy): This procedure removes part or all of a breast growth, or lump. The doctor makes an incision one or two inches (about 2.5 to 5 cm) across and removes the sample. If the lump is small and measures an inch (2.5 cm) or less across, the doctor usually removes the entire lump for testing. If the lump is large, the doctor usually removes only a portion of it for testing. If cancer is found, the rest of the lump can be removed at the time of the biopsy or at a later time.

The doctor closes the opening with sutures or clips which remain in place for about a week. Patients who receive general anesthesia rather than a local will require about an hour to recover from drowsiness after the surgery.

• Surgical biopsy for non-palpable lumps: This procedure is similar to lumpectomy except that the growth is first located by mammography or other imaging studies and then "marked." The doctor inserts a needle that conveys a wire with a hook on the end into the breast, all the while using the image as a guide. After anchoring the hooked wire to the lump, the doctor withdraws the needle and performs the surgery. Another option is to inject a dye to mark the spot rather than using a hooked wire.

What is the time frame for receiving the results of a breast biopsy?

For small biopsies and fine needle aspirations, the results may be available the next day. The results of most breast biopsies will be available within a few days. Sometimes special testing must be performed, and the results may take a bit longer. The radiologist or surgeon performing the procedure will be able to give you and idea of the approximate time frame that the result will be available. Your physician should also let you know how the result will be communicated to you.