How is an excision biopsy of the breast done?
An excision (surgical) biopsy can also be done in different ways: • Surgical biopsy of palpable growths (lumpectomy): This procedure removes part or all of a breast growth, or lump. The doctor makes an incision one or two inches (about 2.5 to 5 cm) across and removes the sample. If the lump is small and measures an inch (2.5 cm) or less across, the doctor usually removes the entire lump for testing. If the lump is large, the doctor usually removes only a portion of it for testing. If cancer is found, the rest of the lump can be removed at the time of the biopsy or at a later time. The doctor closes the opening with sutures or clips which remain in place for about a week. Patients who receive general anesthesia rather than a local will require about an hour to recover from drowsiness after the surgery. • Surgical biopsy for non-palpable lumps: This procedure is similar to lumpectomy except that the growth is first located by mammography or other imaging studies and then “marked.” The do
