Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which doctor will do a breast biopsy?Usually it is a general surgeon, radiologist or pathologist who performs a breast biopsy. However, now there are surgeons with special interest in breast surgery.
2. Will my breast get disfigured after biopsy?
No, the breast will not get disfigured after biopsy procedure.
3. Is anesthesia needed for a breast biopsy?
The patient needs no anesthesia or just a local anesthesia during non-surgical biopsies. However, the patient may receive a local or general anesthesia for surgical biopsies.
4. Is breast biopsy painful?
Except for a minor sting from the injected anesthesia, patients usually feel no pain before or during a procedure. After the procedure, some patients may experience some soreness and pain. Usually, an over-the-counter drug is sufficient to alleviate the discomfort.
5.What is X-ray guided breast biopsy?
X-ray guided breast biopsy is also known as stereotactic biopsy. During this procedure, a computerized mammography machine uses intersecting coordinates to pinpoint the area of tissue change.
X-ray guided breast biopsy is done when mammogram shows a suspicious mass that cannot be felt on breast examination, or a suspicious cluster of small calcium deposits, when the structure of breast tissue is distorted.
