Breast Biopsy

What is a breast biopsy? It is a sample of tissue from an abnormal area identified by a mammogram, ultrasound or physical examination. This tissue is obtained by several methods and studied under the microscope by a pathologist.

Methods

Surgeons may use a fine needle to take out individual cells from a breast lesion. Radiologists may use fine needles guided by ultrasound to obtain breast tissue from small lesions. They may also obtain thin cores of tissue by ultrasound or stereotactic guidance.

Biopsy Interpretation

A board-certified surgical pathologist interprets breast tissue from various types of breast aspirations and biopsies. A surgical pathologist is a physician specially trained to examine biopsies under the microscope. At SCMC there are three surgical pathologists who are also pathology instructors at the UCI School of Medicine. Your breast biopsy will be reviewed by at least two surgical pathologists to increase the accuracy of the interpretation.