Imaging prior to biopsy

[AlaskaAngel]

Hi StephN,

Thanks for the question -- The reason I am asking is to try to nail down whether or not it is still standard practice to have to be recognizable lump found either by palpation or by imaging prior to going ahead with a biopsy.

In other words, I want to know whether a biopsy would be recommended without any evidence beyond something like calcifications on a mammogram.

A family member in the Lower 48 has been recommended to have a stereotactic biopsy, but no lump has been either felt or imaged by ultrasound or MRI or anything, and her mammogram shows just coarse calcifications, and she is having trouble getting any imaging authorized to verify that there is any lump. This is not standard practice as I know it and would result in an awful lot of benign biopsies (and the trauma both physical and emotional that goes with it all). So I am hoping to double check here with others to see if the standard has for some bizarre reason changed in this respect.

AlaskaAngel

[Becky]

I could answer both ways. As you know, I found my IDC in my right breast via self exam. I had a mammogram and since "lefty" needed to be done in 4 months, we mammogramed both sides. Lefty had clustered microcalcifications that were also surgically biopsied during my rightie lumpectomy. Lefty was dcis so I can answer yes to one side and no to the other. I have not voted due to this so I don't screw things up for you.

Secondly - prior to surgery the lump was biopsied via fine needle but the left was not and done surgically. It was small and they probably would have missed it anyway (as it was only 3mm of dcis)

[karenann]

AA,

I don't want to mess up your poll either... I found my lump via self exam. When I went to have a mammogram, even with the little sticky arrow they stuck right where the lump was, it was hard to see anything (very dense breasts), so they did an ultrasound and found the solid mass.

Karen