Surgical Breast Biopsy

Surgical Breast Biopsy in Koramangala, Bangalore

Introduction

After a mammogram, the doctor may ask you to undergo a breast biopsy if they notice unusual findings. Other factors like changes in the breast can also lead a doctor to advise a surgical breast biopsy.

In a surgical breast biopsy, the doctor will remove a small portion of the breast tissue for lab testing. There are many types of breast biopsies, and your doctor will recommend one that best suits you.

What is Surgical Breast Biopsy?

In a surgical breast biopsy, the doctor removes a small sample of breast tissue to examine for suspicious findings like a lump or cancer.

Any lumps that a doctor finds in an MRI or mammogram do not indicate that you have cancer, as there could be multiple reasons for it. A surgical breast biopsy helps doctors understand your problem better and decide if you need further surgery. 

Types

Surgical breast biopsies can be of the following types:

• Fine Needle Biopsy
• Ultrasound-Guided Core Needle Biopsy
• Core Needle Biopsy
• Open Biopsy
• Vacuum-assisted Biopsy 
• MRI-guided Biopsy

The type of biopsy you get depends on the medical problems you may have faced in the past. It also depends on the severity of the symptoms and personal preferences.

Symptoms

Some of the symptoms that can tell you if you should get a surgical breast biopsy are:

• Lump in the breasts
• Bloody discharge from the breasts
• Scaling of the skin of the breasts
• Dimpling of the skin
• An ultrasound, mammogram, or breast MRI shows suspicious results

When to See a Doctor?

If you see changes in the skin around your breasts or notice lumps, crusting, or bloody discharge, you should consult a doctor. 

A doctor can ask you to get a breast biopsy if they come across unusual findings in MRIs, mammograms, etc. 

Request an appointment at Apollo Hospitals

Call 1860 500 2244 to book an appointment.

Possible Risk Factors

A surgical breast biopsy is usually efficient, but there can be a few risk factors. They are:

• Alteration in the appearance of your breasts
• Bruising or swelling at the site of biopsy
• Infections
• Bleeding at the biopsy site
• Soreness at the biopsy site

Preparing for Procedure

Here are a few things that the doctor might ask you about before the procedure:

• Any allergies you may have 
• Any reactions to anesthesia
• If you are on any anticoagulants 
• If you have had aspirin in the last week
• If the doctor recommends MRI, let them know if you have any electronic devices implanted in your body (like a pacemaker)
• If you are pregnant

Treatment

Fine Needle Biopsy
It is the simplest breast biopsy method. The doctor inserts a needle attached to a syringe into the part of the skin that houses the lump. It collects the sample and can help differentiate between a fluid-filled cyst or a solid one. 

Core Needle Biopsy
It is similar to the fine needle biopsy. In this biopsy, the doctor uses a needle to collect several grain-sized samples. 

Ultrasound-Guided Biopsy
In this method, doctors use ultrasound to perform the biopsy. They take the ultrasound device and place it against your breast. They make a small incision and collect several samples to send for testing. 

MRI-Guided Biopsy
In this method, an MRI is used to determine the exact location for the biopsy. MRI provides a 3-D image, and then the doctor makes a small incision and collects the sample.

Conclusion

A breast biopsy is quite a simple procedure. You have to make sure you consult an experienced doctor and follow their instructions well throughout the process.

Good treatment and proper precautions can help you recover fast. It is also important to remember that getting a breast biopsy does not mean you have cancer. There can be many reasons for it.

Reference Links

https://radiology.ucsf.edu/patient-care/for-patients/video/ultrasound-guided-breast-biopsy

https://www.choosingwisely.org/patient-resources/breast-biopsy/

https://www.medicinenet.com/breast_biopsy/article.htm