Breast

Abstract

When signing out a breast biopsy, there are certain things that should be included in the diagnosis. For malignant lesions, in situ or invasive, it is helpful to give an indication of how differentiated the tumor is, or the grade. Second, if microcalcifications were seen on mammography, you must note whether they are present in the specimen and in what context (such as “in association with usual duct hyperplasia”). Failure to find the microcalcifications leads to x-raying the block, calling the radiologist, and cutting levels. Finally, your goal should be to identify the mass or radiographic abnormality the clinicians have detected. If there is no malignancy, you should be looking for some explanation for their findings. Aside from microcalcifications, which do explain a mammographic lesion, you should be looking for anything that could cause a palpable mass, such as fibrosis, cysts or cyst wall, fat necrosis, and benign tumors such as fibroadenomas.