Breast
Breast biopsy
A small sample of breast tissue taken so it can be examined under a microscope. It is usually done with a needle under local anaesthetic, takes around fifteen to thirty minutes, and you go home the same day.
Who it is for
- A lump or imaging finding that examination and scans have not settled
- An area of concern seen only on mammography or ultrasound
- A lymph node that needs sampling
What to expect
Ultrasound is normally used to guide the needle precisely to the target.
Local anaesthetic is injected first. You should feel pressure and movement afterwards, not sharp pain.
With a core biopsy you will hear a distinct click as each sample is taken, loud enough to startle people who have not been warned.
A tiny marker clip is sometimes placed so the site can be identified on future imaging. It is not visible or palpable.
Recovery
Bruising and tenderness for a few days, usually settled with simple pain relief. Most people return to ordinary activity the same day, avoiding strenuous exercise for around 24 hours.
Risks and possible complications
Every operation carries risk, and the list below is general rather than complete. Which of these matter for you depends on your health, your anatomy and what is being treated, which is what the consent conversation before surgery is for.
- Bruising, and occasionally a larger blood collection at the biopsy site
- Infection, which is uncommon but possible wherever skin is broken
- A result that is inconclusive, meaning the biopsy has to be repeated or the area removed surgically
- A small risk that the needle misses the target area, so a normal result does not always end the matter
- A small permanent scar at the needle entry point
No surgeon can promise a particular result, and nothing on this page should be read as one.
Still not sure whether it needs looking at?
Most breast changes turn out to be benign. Working out which ones are is what an assessment is for, and the guides here explain what that involves before you go.