A breast biopsy is a simple medical procedure in which a sample of breast tissue is removed and sent to a laboratory. It can help determine if a lump in your breast is cancerous or non-cancerous.

Why Breast Biopsy is performed?

A breast biopsy is typically performed to investigate a lump in the breast. Most breast lumps are non-cancerous. Your doctors will mostly order a biopsy if they become concerned about the results of a mammogram or breast ultrasound, or if a lump is found during a physical exam.

A biopsy may also be ordered if there are changes in your nipple like bloody discharge, crusting,

dimpling skin, scaling- as these are all typical symptoms of a breast tumour. 

How Breast Biopsy is performed?

Before the breast biopsy, your doctor will examine your breast. This could include:

• A detailed physical examination

• An ultrasound scan

• Aammogram

• An MRI scan

During one of these tests, your doctor may place a thin needle or wire into the area so that the  surgeon can easily detect the area. You’ll be administered local anaesthesia. 

Types of Breast Biopsies 

Fine Needle Biopsy : surgeon inserts a small needle and syringe into the lump and extracts a sample.

Core Needle Biopsy: is similar to a fine needle biopsy. In this procedure, your doctor uses a larger needle to collect several samples, each about the size of a rice grain.

Stereotactic Biopsy : you’ll lie face down on an electrically powered table with a hole in it that can be raised. Your surgeon can work underneath the table while your breast is firmly placed between two plates. He or she will make a small incision and remove samples with a needle or a vacuum-powered probe.

MRI-Guided Core Needle Biopsy: an MRI machine will provide images that guide the surgeon to the lump while a small incision is made, and a sample is taken with a core needle.

Surgical Biopsy : involves the surgical removal of a breast mass that is sent to the laboratory where its edges are examined  to ensure the entire cancerous lump was removed. A metal marker may be left in breast to monitor the area in the future.

What are the Risks of Breast Biopsy?

• An altered appearance of your breast, depending on the size of the tissue removed

• Bruising 

• Swelling 

• Soreness

• Infection 

Though most of the above side effects are temporary and treatable, complications from a biopsy are rare while the benefits of having your potentially cancerous lump inspected timely far outweigh any risk related to the procedure.

After the Procedure

1. You are likely to be able to go home the same day. 

2. The samples from your biopsy will be sent to  laboratory for analysis

3. You’ll need to care for the biopsy site by keeping it clean and changing dressing as advised by your Doctor.

4. Please contact your doctor, in case symptoms prevail like:

• over 100°F fever

• redness and soreness  at the biopsy site

• warmth at the biopsy site

• discharge from the site