biopsy
Last reviewed 01/2018
Performed as an outpatient procedure, fine-needle aspiration biopsy may be used to:
- distinguish cysts from solid lumps
- obtain cells for cytology
The main problem with the technique is the rate of:
- false positives; 1-3% of all cases and mainly due to:
- hypercellular fibroma cells interpreted as malignant
- effect of hormones on breast:
- HRT
- pregnancy
- lactation
- false negatives; 10-20% of all aspirates; mainly due to:
- aspiration track does not encounter malignant cells
- some forms of carcinoma are particularly acellular
If fine needle aspiration fails or is negative a core-needle biopsy may be performed. If core needle biopsy is negative, an open biopsy can be undertaken. In some situations, surgeons may choose to proceed directly from fine-needle aspiration to open biopsy. Frozen section histology of the lump intra-operatively may dictate the extent of excision performed.