Breast Biopsy and Diagnosis

Axillary lymph node dissection is done to determine your risk of metastatic breast cancer. Your lymph node status affects the staging of your cancer and your treatment options. Learn more about lymph nodes and breast cancer here.

Your lymph node status is a critical part of your diagnostic workup and has a majot impact on your options for breast cancer treatment. You need to know if your cancer has spread, and if so, how to choose a treatment plan that will boost your odds of survival. Learn more about your lymph node status and breast cancer treatment options here.

Multiple uptake gated acquisition scans, or MUGA scans, may by ordered if you are going to have anthracycline chemotherapy. Learn more about MUGA Scans and anthracyclines here.

Do you need a biopsy or an aspiration? Which kind of biopsy is used for the most accurate results? Read about four main types of breast biopsy procedures.

Wire localization is a technique that is used to mark the location of a breast abnormality that is quite small, or that can't be easily found by touch. Wire localization is done before a breast biopsy or lumpectomy. Learn more about wire localization.

Having a fine needle aspiration may seem scary, but it can give you the clearest information about the nature of the lump. If the lump turns out to be a cyst, the fluid can be drained out, relieving any pressure it may have been causing. Learn more about a fine needle aspiration biopsy.

A core needle biopsy is used when you need to have more information about a breast lump than a mammogram, ultrasound, or fine needle aspiration can give. A core needle, or hollow core needle, can be used to get small tissue samples from a breast lump. Learn more about the core needle biopsy procedure.

A stereotactic biopsy is used take samples from a lump that cannot be felt during a breast exam, but can be seen on a mammogram or an ultrasound. Stereo mammograms are taken and sent to a computer, which guides the biopsy needle. This is a very accurate procedure. Learn more about stereotactic breast biopsy.

Surgical breast biopsy takes the largest tissue sample and has the highest accuracy rate of all breast biopsy methods. It will leave an external and internal scar but will give you a clear diagnosis of whether your diagnosis is benign or malignant. Learn more about open surgical breast biopsy.