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Breast biopsy - Results

Alternative Names

Biopsy - breast; Open breast biopsy

Normal Values:

A normal result means there is no sign of cancer.

Your doctor or nurse will let you know when you need a follow-up mammogram or other tests.

What abnormal results mean:

Biopsy may identify a number of breast conditions that are not cancer or precancer, including:

Biopsy results may show the following precancerous breast conditions:

Atypical ductal hyperplasia
Atypical lobular hyperplasia

Two main types of breast cancer may be found:

Ductal carcinoma starts in the tubes (ducts) that move milk from the breast to the nipple. Most breast cancers are of this type.
Lobular carcinoma starts in parts of the breast called lobules, which produce milk.

Depending on the biopsy results, you may need further surgery or treatment.

Female Breast

Needle biopsy of the breast

Open biopsy of the breast

Female breast biopsy

Breast lump removal - series

Reviewed last on: 9/10/2009
David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Abeloff MD, Wolff AC, Weber BL, et al. Cancer of the breast. In: Abeloff MD, Armitage JO, Niederhuber JE, Kastan MB, McKena WG. Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2008: chap 95.

Whitman GJ. Ultrasound-guided breast biopsies. Ultrasound Clin. 2006;1:603-615.

Kim CH, Bassett LW. Imaging-guided core needle biopsy of the breast. In: Bassett LW, Jackson VP, Fu KL, Fu, YS. Diagnosis of Diseases of the Breast. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;2005:chap 17.

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