Breast biopsy

A breast biopsy is a procedure during which a small piece of your breast tissue is removed and examined for the presence of malignant cancer cells. Radiologists and/or surgeons take a small sample of breast tissue for examination, which is then passed onto a pathologist, who studies the sample to determine whether cancer cells are present. If cancer is detected, a biopsy helps us identify any cancer spread and the stage of cancer.

Your Penn Medicine provider may order a biopsy if a test—such as physical exam or a mammogram—shows a mass or abnormality. While this may seem scary, a mass does not necessarily signal cancer. Only about 20 to 25 percent of women who have a breast biopsy are diagnosed with cancer. However, breast biopsies remain crucial for confirming or denying a breast cancer diagnosis so that patients can begin treatment as early as possible.

Usually, limited preparation is needed for a breast biopsy. You should tell your doctor about any medications you are taking and bring any results from recent breast imaging (mammograms or ultrasounds) to be reviewed before the procedure. Your care team will give you specific instructions on how to prepare for your biopsy, based on which procedure you will have.

Whether or not you will need anesthesia depends on the type of biopsy. For non-surgical biopsies, such as fine-needle aspiration biopsy and stereotactic core breast biopsy, we usually do not use anesthesia or local anesthesia. For surgical biopsies, we often use local anesthesia, but some patients may require general anesthesia. Breast biopsies are most often performed as an outpatient procedure. 

After extraction of the tissue, the breast biopsy sample needs to be sent to the lab to be analyzed by a specialized pathologist. Afterward, the report of the findings is given to your physician, who will then communicate the results to you. Because of this course of action, breast biopsy results typically take 2-3 days to reach the patient but may take up to a week or longer depending on the complexity of the case and the tissue sample.

The report will show whether cancer cells were found in your breast. If cancer cells are found, the pathology report will help you and your doctor make informed decisions about next steps and breast cancer treatment. You will likely be referred for further testing to determine the stage of the cancer, which will help us create a treatment plan that is best for you.

If the report shows that the cells in a lump are benign or noncancerous, you still might require follow-up treatment as recommended by your doctor.

Our breast cancer team of providers, surgeons, radiologists, and pathologists use advanced imaging and technology to perform breast biopsies. We offer compassionate care and work quickly to get you the answers you need. At Penn, you’ll find:  

• Skilled radiologists: Our specialized radiologists diagnose patients using core biopsy. Biopsy results take just 24 hours and eliminate the need for most excisional (surgical) biopsies. Core biopsy also provides our breast surgeons with vital information before a surgical procedure.
• Advanced technology: We use innovative methods to precisely pinpoint abnormal breast tissue. Using SAVI SCOUT® radar localization technology, we remove only suspicious tissue during a biopsy.
• Dedicated pathologists: Every biopsy is evaluated by a specialized breast pathologist who only works with breast tissue. Our extensive experience means we see details that may be missed. The breast cancer diagnosis we deliver is in-depth and accurate.
• Specialized care close to home: We conduct breast biopsies at all Penn Medicine breast cancer locations. You have access to our team of providers and breast pathologists no matter where you live.