Breast biopsy

Introduction

Mammography and ultrasonography are the common examinations for the investigation of breast pathology. In addition, mammography is a successful worldwide screening test concerning the investigation and the early diagnosis and of breast neoplastic diseases. However, in many cases because of differential diagnosis, breast biopsy is needed to resolve the diagnostic dilemma. The common way to perform breast biopsy is by:
• Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA)
• Core Biopsy
• Open Biopsy
The FNA is actually a cytological examination of the suspicious cystic or solid masses of the breast. FNA is commonly used for the aspiration of the breast cystic tumor. On the other hand, core biopsy or open biopsy is used for the histological documentation of breast pathology, however more often for the solid suspicious masses.
The open biopsy offers the advantage of the complete extraction of the tumor, however under anesthesia, especially for patients with deep breast tumor. In case of more superficial masses, local anesthesia could be used as well. Furthermore, in case of gross breast with deep and small tumors, guide wire (KOPANS) might be necessary for the precise and complete excision of the breast neoplasia (Figure 1).