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Some conditions require the doctor to take a small sample of either tissue
or fluid from the breast through a small needle. Sometimes this will be done for
a solid abnormality (mass) or a cystic lesion (one that contains fluid in the
center). In most cases this can be done on the same visit in which the surgeon
does your initial evaluation. No preparation is required on your part, and you
can go home right afterwards.
This is a simple procedure that is done in the surgeon’s office. it
is only mildly uncomfortable, and compares to the sort of discomfort you would
have with an injection of medication.
You will usually be given a small local injection to anesthetize the area
locally. The biopsy is then taken through a very small needle. A small sample
is drawn up into the needle, and this is then sent to a laboratory for analysis.
A small bandage is then put over the puncture.
The laboratory analysis will look at the cells in the sample (cytology) versus
a histological sample, which looks at solid tissue samples.
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