Breast Biopsy

There are several types of biopsies. Doctors consider the size and location of your breast abnormality, your medical history and other factors to decide which type is right for you.

• Core needle biopsy is also known as true-cut biopsy. It involves inserting a needle into the abnormal area of your breast after numbing it with a local anesthetic. Doctors then withdraw small cylinders, or cores, of tissue.
• Fine needle aspiration involves inserting a thin needle into the breast. The needle is smaller than those used for core needle biopsies. Doctors withdraw cells and/or fluid from the suspicious area, usually after you receive a local anesthetic.
• Surgical breast biopsy involves removing a lump during a surgical procedure. If doctors can’t feel the abnormality, they may perform a needle-localized biopsy. This is a two-step process that begins before surgery. An experienced radiologist uses X-ray images to guide a wire (via a needle) to the suspicious area of the breast. This helps surgeons locate and remove the area of concern.
• Image-guided breast biopsy may be the best option if there’s an abnormality on your mammogram, but doctors can’t feel anything. Breast experts in our radiology department perform these biopsies. Doctors use imaging during the procedure to help ensure they remove tissue from the appropriate area. Options include:
  • MRI-guided biopsy
  • Stereotactic breast biopsy (mammogram-guided)
  • Ultrasound-guided biopsy

Members of our Breast Health Center team are available to answer any questions you might have about breast biopsies.

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy

A sentinel lymph node biopsy is a special type of biopsy doctors may perform if they diagnose you with breast cancer. Lymph nodes are tiny organs located throughout your body that are part of your immune system. Sometimes, cancer cells break away from breast tumors and spread to nearby lymph nodes.

A sentinel node biopsy identifies the node or nodes cancer cells are most likely to spread to first. Doctors then remove these nodes and examine them under a microscope. If they find cancer in the nodes, it means cancer cells may have spread to other areas of your body. This is important information when planning your treatment.

Feeling a lump in your breast or hearing that you have an abnormal mammogram is scary. So is undergoing a biopsy — and waiting for the findings. You can rely on us for timely and accurate results. Only about 20% of biopsies find cancer. This means that four of every five biopsies are negative.

Even if your result is positive, however, you can take comfort in knowing you’ll receive excellent breast cancer care at Lahey. We join you in your fight, ensuring you never feel alone.