A biopsy is a small piece of tissue that is removed and checked in a lab. For a breast biopsy, breast tissue may be removed with a special biopsy needle. Or it may be removed during surgery. It is checked to see if cancer or other abnormal cells are present.
Why might I need a breast biopsy?
Breast biopsies may be done:
• To check a lump or mass that can be felt (is palpable) in the breast
• To check a problem seen on a mammogram, such as small calcium deposits in breast tissue (microcalcifications) or a fluid-filled mass (cyst)
• To evaluate nipple problems, such as a bloody discharge from the nipple
• To find out if a breast lump or mass is cancer (malignant) or not cancer (benign)
A lump or other area of concern in the breast may be caused by cancer. Or it may be caused by another less serious problem.
There may be other reasons for your doctor to recommend a breast biopsy.
Types of breast biopsies:
There are several types of breast biopsy procedures. The type of biopsy that you have will depend on the location and size of the breast lump or area of concern.
Biopsies may be done under local or general anesthesia. For local anesthesia, medicine is injected to numb your breast. You will be awake, but feel no pain. For general anesthesia, you will be given medicine to put you into a deep sleep during the biopsy.
Types of breast biopsies include:
• Fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. A very thin needle is placed into the lump or area of concern. A small sample of fluid or tissue is removed. No cut (incision) is needed. An FNA biopsy may be done to help see if the area is a fluid-filled sac (cyst) or a solid lump.
• Core needle biopsy. A large needle is guided into the lump or area of concern. Small cylinders of tissue, called cores, are removed. No cut is needed.
• Open (surgical) biopsy. A cut is made in the breast. The surgeon removes part or all of the lump or area of concern. In some cases the lump may be small, deep, and hard to find. Then a method called wire localization may also be used. For this, a thin needle with a very thin wire is put into the breast. X-ray images help guide it to the lump. The surgeon then follows this wire to find the lump.
pecial tools and methods may be used to guide the needles and help with biopsy procedures. These include:
• Stereotactic biopsy. With this method, a 3D image of the breast is made using a computer and mammogram results. The 3D image then guides the biopsy needle to the exact site of the breast lump or area of concern.
• Vacuum-assisted core biopsy. A small cut is made in the breast. A hollow tube or probe is inserted through the cut. It is guided to the breast lump or mass by MRI, X-rays, or ultrasound. The breast tissue is gently pulled into the probe. A spinning knife inside the tube cuts the tissue from the breast. Several tissue samples can be taken at one time.
• Ultrasound-guided biopsy. This method uses ultrasound images of the breast lump or mass. These images help guide the needle to the exact biopsy site.
What are the risks of a breast biopsy?
All procedures have some risk. Some possible complications of a breast biopsy include:
• Bruising and mild pain at the biopsy site
• Prolonged bleeding from the biopsy site
• Infection near the biopsy site
If the biopsy is done using an X-ray, the amount of radiation used is small. The risk for radiation exposure is very low.
You may have other risks depending on your specific medical condition. Be sure to discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider before the biopsy is done.
Resource :https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/breast-biopsy