Breast lump removal - series—Indications

Overview

Most breast lumps are not diagnosed by a healthcare provider, but are detected by women who give themselves breast self-examinations. Any breast lump that persists beyond a few days should be reported to a healthcare provider. Almost two-thirds of all breast lumps are benign, but the chance of a malignant lump is greatly increased if the woman is past menopause.  Ultrasound and mammogram may be used to see if a lump is a cyst filled with fluid or a solid mass of tissue. If the lump is a cyst, it can be left alone or aspirated if it causes symptoms. If a cyst appears suspicious on imaging, needle aspiration or needle biopsy can be performed. If the lump is a solid mass, the next step is usually a needle biopsy performed by a radiologist or breast specialist. The tissue is checked by a pathologist to see if it is cancer or not.