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Breast biopsy
Alternative Names:
Biopsy - breast
What the risks are:
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There is a slight chance of infection at the injection or incision site.
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Excessive bleeding is rare, but may require draining or re-bandaging. Bruising is common.
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There will be a scar. Depending on the amount of tissue removed and how the breast heals, the appearance of the breast may be affected.
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Depending on the results of the biopsy, further surgery or treatment may be needed.
Special considerations:
Most
breast lumps
are detected during a manual breast exam or
mammography
. A
discharge from the nipple
may indicate the presence of a cancerous tumor. Even if the biopsy results are benign, discuss ongoing breast screening with your doctor.
References:
Abeloff MD, Armitage JO, Niederhuber JE, Kastan MB, McKena WG.
Clinical Oncology
. 3rd ed. Orlando, Fl: Churchill Livingstone; 2004.
Whitman GJ. Ultrasound-guided breast biopsies. Ultrasound Clin. Dec 2006; 1(4); 603-615.
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Review Date: 7/25/2007
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Reviewed By: Robert A. Cowles, MD, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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