A breast biopsy removes a small tissue sample from the breast. Taking a biopsy can help our doctors at the Southcoast Breast Center diagnose or rule out breast conditions, including breast cancer.
Most biopsies for an abnormal mammogram or ultrasound are needle biopsies. Needle biopsies take about an hour, and patients can drive themselves home and return to normal activity the next day.
Our doctors may use X-rays, ultrasound, or MRI during a breast biopsy to locate the sample area precisely. Our breast surgeons and radiologists commonly perform the following types of breast biopsies in southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island to patients who have a lump in their breast or have had an abnormal screening mammogram.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be used by your radiologist to view abnormal breast tissue that may not have been easily identified using other imaging methods. During this procedure, the radiologist will utilize a vacuum-powered instrument that uses pressure to collect many tissue samples during one needle insertion.
This type of biopsy helps determine if a lump (or microcalcification) in the breast is benign (noncancerous) or cancerous. A stereotactic breast biopsy uses a 3D mammogram machine to guide the radiologist to the abnormal site so that they can collect more than one tissue sample with the use of a vacuum-powered instrument.
An ultrasound image may provide in-depth information about any abnormalities or lumps found in the breast, such as their size, shape, and whether or not the lesion contains fluid. The ultrasound will guide a needle inserted by the radiology to biopsy the abnormal part of the breast.
Preparing for a breast biopsy can be overwhelming. Our staff is uniquely sensitive to each patient’s needs during their biopsy at the Southcoast Health Breast Center. It’s helpful to take your time and learn about the different biopsy options to make the best decision for you. Before having a breast biopsy, ask your doctor at Southcoast Health to explain:
After a breast biopsy, your doctor will send the tissue sample to a pathologist who will process the tissue and diagnose it. If cancer is detected, the biopsy results will determine a specific treatment plan that is right for you.
Your recovery time will depend on the type of breast biopsy. For less invasive biopsies, you should be back to your normal activities within 24 hours. Surgical biopsies — incisional and excisional — have a longer recovery.
The results of your breast biopsy will determine your next steps. If the results are benign (not cancerous), no further treatment may be necessary. In other cases, your doctor may recommend additional surgeries or treatments.
Southcoast Health provides exceptional diagnostics for breast care patients, including breast biopsy, in Fall River, Dartmouth, and surrounding areas of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Southcoast Health é um sistema de saúde sem fins lucrativos, caritativo e baseado na comunidade, com múltiplos pontos de acesso, que oferece uma continuidade integrada de serviços de saúde em todo o sudeste de Massachusetts e Rhode Island.
