A needle biopsy is performed under local anesthesia. Simple
aspirations are performed with a small gauge needle to attempt to
draw fluid from lumps that are thought to be cysts. Fine needle
biopsy uses a larger needle to make multiple passes through a lump,
drawing out tissue and fluid. Withdrawn fluid and tissue is further
evaluated to determine if there are cancerous cells present.
Review Date: 01/28/2011
Reviewed By: Debra G. Wechter, MD, FACS, General Surgery practice specializing
in breast cancer, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle,
Washingon. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director,
A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
