Breast Biopsy at University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

The recovery time depends on the type of breast biopsy you had and the type of anesthesia used. You generally should rest as much as possible for the remainder of the day and then resume your normal activities the day after. Still, you need to avoid strenuous activities for several days to avoid complications.

A breast biopsy is a safe and effective procedure with about 95% success rate. The test result of a breast biopsy will determine if the lump or suspect area in your breast is benign (noncancerous), precancerous, or cancerous. Only 20% of breast biopsy results come back as cancerous.

If the breast lump is found to be cancerous, a breast biopsy can also detect the type of cancer. The information obtained from the biopsy can be used to help plan your treatment, which may include:

• A lumpectomy (a surgery to remove the tumor and preserve the breast)
• A mastectomy (a surgery to remove the entire breast)
• Chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Hormone therapy.

If the test revealed that the breast lump is noncancerous, the test will also tell the conditions that cause the lump, such as adenofibroma, fibrocystic breast disease, mammary fat necrosis, and intraductal papilloma.

Although breast biopsy is a very safe procedure, there are some risks associated with the procedure, including:

• Swelling and bruising of the breast
• Mild pain at the biopsy site
• Infection or bleeding at the biopsy site
• Altered breast appearance

There may be other risks depending on your specific medical problems as well.