size of specimen in excisional biopsy

cbrewer

I am scheduled for an excisional biopsy next week for flat cell atypia found on my steriotactic needle biopsy and am concerned about the size of the specimen and how I will look afterward.

The lesion was 5mm and the surgeon indicated a large plum sized excision. Is this excessive?

The was no palpable lump, just visiable findings on mammogram that lead to the first biopsy.

vmudrow

I had a excisional biopsy for atypical lobular hyperplasia (showed as microcalcifications) a year ago and they took out a golf ball size, the surgeon them moved some tissue from higher up to kind of fill in where she took out.  They want to take enough out to get a good sampling.  Hope yours is B9 - good luck - keep us posted.

Hugs, Valerie

NanaA

I had 3 biopsies because we did not get clean margins on all sides until the 3rd one.  I think your Dr just wants to make sure they get it all instead of having to go back in again.  I guess you would really call the 2nd and 3rd one lumpectomies since they were sure what they were looking at after the 1st one.  They color each side of the tissue a different color so they know exactly how it was positioned and know where they have to get more tissue from if they have to go back in.  Annette