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| Forum | Questions | Ask a Question | |
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Breast Biopsy Questions about the definition, risks and results of breast biopsy. |
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| Asked | Publicly Submitted Question | ||
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| 2/2/2012 | I am scheduled for an excisional breast biopsy for a cluster of microcalcifications. I am not a candidate for the needle core biopsy due to small breast size and the location of the microcalcifications. The breast surgeon told me he plans to remove a tissue sample the size of a walnut. I have small breasts and am concerned my breasts will be disfigured as a result. I am wondering if it is necessary to remove this amount of tissue in order to make a diagnosis. Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Thank you. | ||
| Replied | JHU's Breast Center Reply | ||
| 2/3/2012 | It really depends on how suspicious these calcifications look. If the radiologist has assigned a birad of "4b" then he is anticipating that the outcome will be a diagnosis of breast cancer. If he assigned a score of "4a" however then the risk if 20%. He needs to get an adequate sampling of them for the pathologist to make a diagnosis. this is the most important thing i can probably tell you. the location of them will influence if your breast will look different or not. calcifications in the upper outer quadrant are "ideal" if there is such a thing, given that the body fills back in a cavity surgically created there and does so quickly with body fat. If tissue needs to be removed from the inner upper or inner lower quadrant however then there may be the appearance of a divit there. the priority however is to focus on the purpose--- knowing if you have cancer and treating it appropriately if that is the outcome of this biopsy procedure. | ||
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