What is a Breast Biopsy?

There are several types of breast biopsy. The choice of which type is suitable for an individual depends on various factors. Some of these include:

  • The extent of suspicion of cancer of the breast tumor
  • The size of the tumor
  • The number of tumors
  • Other medical problems
  • Personal preferences of the patient
Breast Tissue Biopsy (2008)

Types of breast biopsy

The various types of breast biopsy include:

Fine needle aspiration biopsy or cytology (FNAB/FNAC)

In this procedure the pathologist or the doctor uses a very thin needle (thinner than ones used for blood tests) attached to a syringe to withdraw a small amount of tissue from the suspicious area. The tissue is placed over a glass slide, stained with special dyes and examined under the microscope.

The area of the biopsy is first numbed with a local anesthetic injection. For the procedure the doctor locates the lump by palpating it or feeling it by hand. In case the lump is not felt by hand the doctor may use imaging guidance of an ultrasound and watch the needle on a screen as it moves toward and into the mass.

Another method is to use a stereotactic needle biopsy to guide the needle. In this the computers can map the exact location of the mass using mammograms taken from 2 angles. This helps in the biopsy.

An FNAC may sometimes miss cancer if the needle does not get a tissue sample from the area of cancer cells. This may require a second FNAC or a different type of biopsy.

Core needle biopsy

This is similar to FNAC. In this the needle is slightly larger and hollow. It is used to withdraw small cylinders (or cores) of tissue from the abnormal area in the breast. This is also performed under local anesthesia.

The needle is put in 3 to 6 times to get the samples, or cores. Imaging guidance may be used for this type of biopsy as well. A stereotactic core needle biopsy may also be performed under imaging guidance.

Vacuum-assisted core biopsy

This is done by a Vacuum Assisted Device.  A hollow probe is put in through a cut over the lump. A cylinder of tissue is then pulled into the probe through a hole in its side, and a rotating knife inside the probe cuts the tissue sample from the rest of the breast.

Surgical or open biopsy

If the tumor is diagnosed using FNAC, treatment is planned accordingly. In some cases where diagnosis is not confirmed a surgical biopsy may be recommended. For this the lump may be totally or partially excised. This may also be called an open biopsy.
Open biopsies are of two types - incisional biopsies and excisional biopsies. When an entire lump is removed, the procedure is called an ''excisional biopsy''. When only a sample of tissue is removed with preservation of the histological architecture of the tissue’s cells, the procedure is called an ''incisional biopsy''.

Sentinel Node Biopsy

This is biopsy of a sentinel lymph node. A sentinel lymph node is the first draining axillary lymph node from the breast. If tumor cells are detected in this node, the status of the spread of the cancer from the breast can be predicted.

Further Reading

Last Updated: Jun 17, 2023

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Written by

Dr. Ananya Mandal

Dr. Ananya Mandal is a doctor by profession, lecturer by vocation and a medical writer by passion. She specialized in Clinical Pharmacology after her bachelor's (MBBS). For her, health communication is not just writing complicated reviews for professionals but making medical knowledge understandable and available to the general public as well.

Citations

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

  • APA

    Mandal, Ananya. (2023, June 17). What is a Breast Biopsy?. News-Medical. Retrieved on October 31, 2024 from https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-a-Breast-Biopsy.aspx.

  • MLA

    Mandal, Ananya. "What is a Breast Biopsy?". News-Medical. 31 October 2024. <https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-a-Breast-Biopsy.aspx>.

  • Chicago

    Mandal, Ananya. "What is a Breast Biopsy?". News-Medical. https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-a-Breast-Biopsy.aspx. (accessed October 31, 2024).

  • Harvard

    Mandal, Ananya. 2023. What is a Breast Biopsy?. News-Medical, viewed 31 October 2024, https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-a-Breast-Biopsy.aspx.

Comments

The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of News Medical.
Post a new comment
Post

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.

You might also like...
CKMT2 regulates mitochondrial function and energy metabolism in type 2 diabetes