Breast Biopsy (cont.)
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
In this Article
- What is a breast biopsy?
- What is the purpose of a breast biopsy?
- What specialties of physicians and practitioners do breast biopsies?
- Who should have a breast biopsy?
- In what setting is the breast biopsy done?
- What may a benign result indicate?
- How is a suspicious breast growth discovered?
- What should the patient tell the physician about the growth?
- How does a physician confirm the presence of a breast growth?
- Is anesthesia needed for a biopsy?
- What about pain and complications?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of non-surgical procedures versus surgical breast biopsies?
- What are the different types of breast biopsy procedures and what do they involve?
- How is a fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) done?
- How is a core needle biopsy (CNB) done?
- How is a vacuum-assisted breast biopsy done?
- How is an excision biopsy of the breast done?
- What is the time frame for receiving the results of a breast biopsy?
- Breast Biopsy At A Glance
- Find a local Surgeon in your town
Breast Biopsy At A Glance
- A breast biopsy procedure is usually done to determine whether a growth in the breast is cancerous or benign.
- A lump or other sign of breast cancer in a man or woman may warrant a breast biopsy.
- A breast biopsy can be done with a needle or by a surgical procedure.
- Non-surgical biopsies tend to be less stressful and minimize the risk of complications.
- Non-surgical biopsies are not always as reliable as surgical biopsies in producing a conclusive diagnosis.
- The biopsy may be done with imaging guidance.
Last Editorial Review: 6/17/2008
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