What to Expect if You're Having a Core Needle Breast Biopsy

If your doctor finds a lump in your breast during an examination or notices suspicious results of a mammogram or other imaging test, he or she may ask that you undergo a biopsy—a surgical procedure in which a collection of cells or tissue is removed from the breast for closer examination under a microscope.

One type of surgery, called a core needle biopsy, uses a large, fitted needle to extract a sample of tissue about the size of a piece of pencil lead.

A core needle biopsy can take place in a doctor’s office, clinic, or hospital. It can be performed by an internist, family medical doctor, radiologist, or general surgeon.

Before the procedure, you will be asked to remove any clothing above your waistline and wear a paper or cloth gown covering your shoulders. You will either lay or sit on an examination table. Your hands may be at your sides or above your head, depending on which position makes it easiest to locate the lump.

Before the needle insertion, the doctor will numb your skin with an injection of numbing medicine. After the skin is numb, a small cut is made in your skin. A needle with a special tip is put into the breast tissue, and ultrasound may be used to guide the needle placement. You have to remain still during the procedure.

Once the needle is removed, pressure is put on the needle site to stop any bleeding. A bandage is put on the incision area. The procedure, which takes about 15 minutes, may be repeated to make sure enough tissue samples are collected.