Biopsy

The only certain way to learn whether a breast lump or mammographic abnormality is cancerous is a biopsy: Tissue is removed by a surgeon or other specialist and examined under a microscope by a pathologist. The pathologist is a physician who specializes in identifying tissue changes that are characteristic of disease, including cancer.

Tissue samples for biopsy can be obtained either with surgery or with needles. The choice of biopsy technique depends on such things as the nature and location of the lump as well as the woman's general health.

• ]]>Needle biopsies]]>
• ]]>Surgical biopsies]]>
• ]]>Stereotactic localization biopsy]]>
• ]]>Tissue studies]]>
• ]]>Deciding to biopsy]]>
• ]]>One step or two]]>