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
• Breast Biopsy Index

Breast Biopsy At A Glance

• A breast biopsy procedure is usually done to determine whether a growth in the breast is cancerous or benign.
  
  
• A lump or other sign of breast cancer in a man or woman may warrant a breast biopsy.
  
  
• A breast biopsy can be done with a needle or by a surgical procedure.
  
  
• Non-surgical biopsies tend to be less stressful and minimize the risk of complications.
  
  
• Non-surgical biopsies are not always as reliable as surgical biopsies in producing a conclusive diagnosis.
  
  
• The biopsy may be done with imaging guidance.

Suggested Reading by Our Doctors

• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan) - Medical information on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) used in detecting structural abnormalities of the body. Learn uses, risks, and how to prepare for an MRI scan
• Breast Cancer - Get the facts on breast cancer symptoms, signs, stages, types, research, risk factors, diagnosis, prevention information and treatment options: mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy.
• Ultrasound - Learn an ultrasound procedure, and conditions and diseases it assists in diagnosing and screening like tumors, cysts, heart conditions and more.

Read more Breast Biopsy related articles »

Latest Medical News

• Patients Not Always Told of Lab Results
• Waiting Is the Hardest Part in Biopsies
• Breast Self-Exams: No Survival Benefit
• Hormone Therapy May Skew Mammograms