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Breast Biopsy

University of Michigan Cancer Center Patients

There are three types of breast biopsy procedures performed at the U-M Cancer Center. Please open and print the one you are scheduled for:

Breast Biopsy Clinical Procedure (Core Biopsy) information sheet

Surgical Breast Biopsy Operating or Procedure Room information sheet

Wire Localization Biopsy information sheet

The above are all .pdf documents.

Definition

Biopsy
A procedure in which tissue samples are removed from the body for examination under a microscope to find out if cancer or other abnormal cells are present. There are several types of breast biopsy:

  • Breast Biopsy Clinical Procedure (Core Biopsy)
    A core needle biopsy uses a large needle fitted with a special tip. The needle goes through the skin to the lump or area to take out a sample of tissue about the size of a pencil lead. A core needle biopsy can also be done using a suction unit that gently removes a larger sample of tissue.


  • Surgical Breast Biopsy Operating or Procedure Room
    A surgeon makes a cut in the skin and removes a sample of the lump or the entire lump. If your doctor cannot feel a lump, a needle (or wire) can be put in the suspicious area during a mammogram done just before surgery. The needle (or wire) then guides your doctor to the suspicious area to take a biopsy sample.


  • Wire Localization Biopsy
    Aa special type of X-ray is used during a core needle biopsy to find the area of the breast where the biopsy sample will be taken. This technique can check a lump that cannot be felt on breast examination but is seen on mammogram or ultrasound. A small incision is then made in the skin of the breast, and the core needle is guided by the X-ray to the biopsy site to take a tissue sample.

Additional Information

Please visit the breast biopsy web page, part of the University of Michigan Healthwise Knowledgebase.
Speak with a Cancer nurse: 1-800-865-1125

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University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
1500 East Medical Center Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

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