An excisional breast biopsy is a diagnostic tool used to examine and treat a breast lump. During the biopsy, a doctor makes a small incision in the breast and surgically removes as much of the tumor as possible, then closes the wound. Following the biopsy the doctor performs medical tests to help diagnose the nature of the breast lump and determine whether the lump is cancerous or benign. Though an effective diagnostic tool, an excisional breast biopsy may lead to a number of side effects.
Infection
Any breast biopsy that pierces the skin carries some risk of infection. Since an excisional breast biopsy is a surgical procedure which involves a larger incision, patients have a slightly higher risk of developing an infection at the surgical site than they would with a less invasive biopsy technique, reports Imaginis. If the surgical wound is not properly cared for after treatment, bacteria, viruses or fungi can enter into the breast tissue, leading to redness, swelling and pain at the infection site. Keeping the wound clean and dry can help prevent an infection, while antibiotics present an effective treatment if an infection does occur.
Breast Scarring
Since an excisional breast biopsy involves the removal of a relatively large amount of breast tissue, the procedure commonly leaves internal and external scarring. Patients who have undergone the biopsy typically develop a small linear scar at the site of the incision. The biopsy also leaves internal scarring where the lump tissue was removed. Since scar tissue is generally denser than normal breast tissue, extensive scarring within the breast can make future mammograms difficult to read, according to Imaginis. As a result, patients who have undergone an excisional breast biopsy must undergo regular testing to detect any future breast lumps.
Breast Disfigurement
In some cases, the removal of large breast lumps during an excisional breast biopsy can disrupt the normal glandular structure of the breast, leading to breast disfigurement. Patients may experience a change in breast shape due to removing a significant amount of tissue, and experience changes in breast consistency due to internal scarring. To remedy breast disfigurement following an excisional breast biopsy, some patients may opt for breast reconstruction surgery to restore the appearance of their breast. To minimize breast disfigurement, doctors typically perform the least invasive biopsy possible, and seek to remove only a small amount of healthy breast tissue during an excisional breast biopsy.
