Breast disorders are a common problem. Dr. Schlotter can evaluate and treat people for breast masses, cysts, nipple discharge, breast pain, breast cancer and gynecomastia (abnormal breast enlargement primarily in men). He will carefully review your history, mammograms, and examine the breast and patient. Dr. Schlotter can also use the in-office duplex scanner (ultrasound) to more accurately assess or biopsy a lesion in the breast. If surgery is necessary, Dr. Schlotter will discuss the options and assist you in planning your procedure. We want to provide patients the highest quality care and the most thorough information.
Types of Breast Disorders
- Fibrocystic Changes
- Breast Cysts
- Benign Tumors
- Nipple Discharge
- Fat Necrosis
- Disorders affecting the mammary ducts
- Gynecomastia (mostly in men)
- Cancer
Breast Lump Facts:
Breast lumps can be caused by infections, injuries, non-cancerous growths, and cancer.
Breast cancer usually causes no pain in the breast.
The chances that a particular breast lump could be cancerous depends on many factors, including past medical history, physical examination and genetic and other risk factors.
The only way to be certain that a lump is not cancerous is to have a tissue sampling (biopsy).
There are many causes of breast lumps. Some of these causes are harmless, while others can be painful and/or dangerous. Causes of breast lumps include infections, injuries, non-cancerous growths, and cancer.
Breast Biopsy For Breast Disorders
Most biopsies are performed because a person has a lump or abnormal imaging study (mammogram, ultrasound or MRI). In many cases, these are signs of benign breast disorder. A biopsy may be recommended to accurately diagnose the condition so that proper treatment may be prescribed. The specific biopsy technique used will depend on a number of factors and may differ from one patient to another.
- Fine Needle Aspiration: During this procedure, a very fine needle is placed into the breast abnormality to remove a small portion of tissue or fluid from the suspicious area. This type of biopsy can help determine whether the area is a fluid-filled cyst or mass.
- Needle Core Biopsy: This procedure is similar to a needle aspiration, but the instrument used to remove the tissue is larger. The hollow tube is placed into the suspicious area and a cylinder of tissue is removed. Large core biopsy involves a very small incision (2mm). In some cases, needle core biopsy may be used to remove the entire mass for examination.
- Open Surgical Biopsy: An incision is made in the breast to allow the surgeon to remove part of all the suspicious area. An incisional biopsy removes part of the lump, while an excisional biopsy removes all of it. This procedure is often performed in the operating room with sedation anesthesia to ensure the patient’s safety and comfort.
- Stereotactic Biopsy: A core biopsy of a suspicious are is performed with a computer assisted mammogram targeting the mass.
While most breast lumps are harmless (benign), every breast lump should be evaluated by a doctor to exclude or establish a diagnosis of cancer. A breast biopsy can be an anxiety-provoking procedure for any patient. At Finesse Surgical Solutions, we strive to inform our patients thoroughly about the sometimes complex nature of breast disorders, to involve you in your surgical choices and to provide you high quality surgical outcomes. If we need other specialist to assist in your care (such as oncologists or intervential radiologists) we will arrange for these referrals as well.