BREAST BIOPSY
OPEN
GENERAL INFORMATION
Thousands of women have breast masses that may cause
them concern. These masses can be smaller than a pea
or as large as an orange. There may be one mass or
many masses. They can be solid or filled with fluid.
Some are benign and others are likely to be
cancerous; a lot of them are in between. Some masses
can be felt whereas some are seen only on
mammography. Because not all masses are the same,
they do not all need to have a sample taken of them
in the same way.
DIAGNOSIS
The majority of these breast lumps are not
cancerous. If a risk of cancer is small your doctor
may recommend careful observation. Generally, if the
risk of cancer is thought to be greater than 2%,
removing some of the suspicious tissue for testing
is recommended. A biopsy can be done in one of
several ways i.e. fine needle aspiration, needle
core biopsy or open biopsy.
After careful consideration of all the factors your
doctor has recommended that you have a biopsy of the
tissue in your breast and that this be done through
a standard open incision.
PRE-OPERATIVE CARE
Your doctor will explain to you whether he will do
the biopsy under local or general anaesthetic. If
under general anaesthetic you must not have anything
to eat or drink for 6 hours before the operation.
Make sure your doctor knows what medicines you take,
especially medicines which may affect blood
clotting.
OPERATION
Under local or general anaesthetic your breast will
be cleaned with an antiseptic. A cosmetically
acceptable incision will be made. Tissue removed
will be sent to the laboratory for examination. The
bleeding in the wound will be stopped and the skin
will be closed in an acceptable manner. Your doctor
may or may not decide to leave a drain in the wound.
POST OPERATIVE CARE
You will initially be carefully observed in a
recovery room and will be monitored. When you are
stable you will be transferred back to your regular
hospital bed. Your doctor will discuss with you
whether you may go home the same day or whether you
will be required to remain in hospital overnight.
HOME CARE
Your doctor will discuss post operative home
activities with you. He will explain to you when you
may resume normal activities, when you may drive and
when you may return to work. Your doctor will
discuss bathing and showering with you and will
instruct you when to have the sutures removed.
COMPLICATIONS
1. Complications are not common after a BREAST
BIOPSY, but you must be aware of the following
possible complications.
2. A bleed or haematoma at the site of a BREAST
BIOPSY does sometimes occur, even in spite of a
drain having been left in. Depending on the extent
of this bleed, this does sometimes need a repeat
operation to evacuate the haematoma.
3. The wound of a BREAST BIOPSY rarely becomes
infected. If this happens, it may necessitate
dressings or other active management.
4. The scar after this operation is usually quite
satisfactory, but some patients may end up with an
unattractive scar.
5. Systemic complications like venous thrombosis and
pulmonary embolism are rare, but possible after any
operation or anaesthetic.
pil-breast biopsy open.doc/ver2/10 January 2002
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