Information for Patients

Before your breast biopsy, tell your doctor if you

• Have any allergies

• Have taken aspirin in the last 7 days

• Are taking blood-thinning agents (anticoagulants, warfarin)

Wear a bra to your appointment.  The health care team may place a cold pack against the biopsy site after the procedure, and the bra can hold the cold pack in place and provide support for your breast.

As with any skin-piercing procedure, there are risks of infection, nerve damage and bleeding.  Some people are allergic to the local anaesthetic we use.  Please let us know if you have problems with the anaesthetic you receive from your dentist.

Other risks involved depend on the procedure you will receive. 

There are no known radiation risks for ultrasound-guided biopsies.

Mammogram-guided biopsies involves exposure to x-rays.  X-rays consist of a type of radiation known as ionising radiation.  The doses that are used in medical x-rays are very low and the associated risks are minimal.  We keep the doses as low as possible and make sure that the benefits of having the x-ray outweigh any risk. Also, x-rays can be harmful for an unborn baby and should be avoided by women who are or who may be pregnant.  It is recommended that the examination is performed within 10 days of the first day of the onset of your menstrual period. 

Biopsies and fine needle aspirations are often performed on the same day as your breast ultrasound.

Wire Guided Biopsy:

You will either be seated or lying down for this examination.  The equipment chosen will be able to show the exact area of the breast where your lump is. Local anaesthetic is used to numb the skin, then the radiologist will place the wire into the breast with its tip in the abnormal tissue. Once the wire is in place, images are taken again to check its position. Having the wire put in is not as painful as it sounds - the wire will be covered  with a dressing so its position is secure until your surgery. You will then be returned to the ward and taken to theatre later. Whilst you are asleep the surgeon will remove the piece of tissue around the end of the wire, removing the wire at the same time.

Once the examination is completed you will be taken back to your cubicle to get dressed. You may then go home and eat and drink normally.

After the local anaesthetic wears off, you might feel a dull pain at the site of the biopsy.  This is normal, and you are welcome to take over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol.  Please do not take any aspirin-based medications, as these may cause bleeding or increased bruising.  You are also welcome to apply a cold pack as needed to relieve the discomfort and swelling.

We ask you to put in a day of rest after the procedure:  daily tasks such as shopping or cooking are allowed, but we ask you not to carry heavy loads, exercise or anything else that might be strenuous.  After 24 hours following the procedure, you are more than welcome to resume your normal activities.

The results of your examination will not be given to you on the same day. The biopsy will be processed by the Pathology Department; this will take several days. Your consultant will receive a written report from the pathologist and he will contact you as arranged.

A schematic diagram of a needle core biopsy.