Definition
Breast surgical biopsy is surgery to remove all or part of a breast mass. A lab will check the sample to see if there is something unusual about it.
Reasons for Procedure
Breast surgical biopsy is done to look at a suspicious part of the breast. It can find out of the spot is cancerous or not.
It may be done if there is:
- A lump
- Tissue thickening
- A nipple change
- Leaking from the nipple
- An abnormal ultrasound or mammogram
Possible Complications
Problems are rare, but all procedures have some risk. The doctor will go over problems that could happen, such as::
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Bruising
- Damage to tissues
Things that may raise the risk of problems are:
What to Expect
Prior to Procedure
The doctor may meet with you to talk about:
- Anesthesia options
- Any allergies you may have
- Current medicines, herbs, and supplements that you take and whether you need to stop taking them before surgery
- Fasting before surgery, such as avoiding food or drink after midnight the night before
- Whether you need a ride to and from surgery
Anesthesia
The doctor may give:
- Local anesthesia—the area will be numbed.
- General anesthesia —you will be asleep.
Description of the Procedure
There are a few ways the doctor can remove the mass:
A small incision will be made over the area. Part or all of the mass will be removed. The site will be closed with stitches or staples. It will be bandaged.
| Open Breast Biopsy |
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| If all of the mass is removed, then it is called a lumpectomy . |
| Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc. |
This method is used if the mass cannot be felt. Imaging is used to guide a fine wire to the breast through a needle. The wire will point to the spot that needs to be removed. A small cut will be made and the mass will be removed.
How Long Will It Take?
1 to 3 hours
Will It Hurt?
There will be some discomfort after the procedure. Medicine will help.
Average Hospital Stay
Most can home the same day.
Post-procedure Care
Right after the procedure, the staff may give you pain medicine.
During your stay, staff will take steps to control your risk of infection, such as:
- Washing their hands
- Wearing gloves or masks
- Keeping your incisions covered
There are also steps you can take to lower your risk of infection, such as:
- Washing your hands often and reminding visitors and staff to do the same
- Reminding staff to wear gloves or masks
- Not letting others touch your incisions
Pain should go away in a week or so. Swelling may last for a few weeks or months. Some activities may be limited during this time.
It will take about 2 to 5 days to get test results.
Call Your Doctor
Call your doctor if you are not getting better or you have:
- Signs of infection, such as fever or chills
- Excess bleeding, redness, swelling, or discharge from the incision site
- Lasting nausea or vomiting
- Pain that you cannot control with the medicine
- Problems breathing or chest pain
- Pain and/or swelling in the feet, calves, or legs
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Canadian Breast Cancer Network https://www.cbcn.c
Canadian Cancer Society http://www.cancer.ca
References
Breast biopsy. American Cancer Society website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection/breast-biopsy.html. Accessed September 21, 2021.
Breast cancer—health professional version. National Cancer Institute website. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/hp. Accessed September 21, 2021.
Breast cancer in women. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/breast-cancer-in-women. Accessed September 21, 2021.
Kalambo M, Dogan BE, et al. Step by step: Planning a needle localization procedure. Clin Imaging. 2020;60(1):100-108.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Mohei Abouzied, MD, FACP
- Review Date: 07/2021
- Update Date: 09/21/2021