A surgical biopsy is the most accurate way to diagnose breast cancer and get complete information about the tumor. However, it is more invasive than a needle biopsy. Because a core needle biopsy appears to be as accurate as a surgical biopsy in diagnosing cancer, it is most often done first [3,5].
In most surgical biopsies, the entire suspicious area (plus some of the surrounding normal tissue) is removed from the breast. In certain cases, when the entire area is too large to remove, only part of it is taken out.
The tissue removed is tested for signs of cancer. If cancer is found, other tests can be done to help you and your health care provider plan treatment. Learn more about these tests.
There are two types of surgical biopsies:
Updated 10/19/11
