Breast lump removal

Alternative Names: Lumpectomy; Wide local excision; Breast conservation surgery; Breast sparing surgery; Partial mastectomy

Breast lump removal, called lumpectomy, is surgery to remove a breast cancer or other lump in the breast, along with some surrounding tissue from the breast.

This article covers lumpectomy that is done to remove breast cancer. Other reasons to perform a lumpectomy include:

• Fibroadenoma
• Other noncancerous tumors of the breast

See also:

• Breast biopsy - open
• Breast biopsy - stereotactic
• Breast biopsy - ultrasound (core needle)
• Mastectomy

Description of Procedure

If the breast cancer can be seen on a mammogram or ultrasound but the doctor cannot feel the cancer on a physical exam, a wire localization will be done before the surgery:

• A radiologist will use a mammogram or ultrasound to place a needle (or needles) in or near the abnormal breast area.
• This will help the surgeon know where the cancer is so that it can be removed.

Breast lump removal is usually done in an outpatient clinic. You will be given general anesthesia (you will be asleep, but pain free) or local anesthesia (awake, but sedated and pain free). The procedure takes about 1 hour.

The surgeon makes a small cut on your breast. The surgeon then removes the cancer with some breast tissue around it.

• The goal is to remove breast cancer, along with a rim of normal breast tissue around it. When no cancer cells are near the edges of the tissue removed, it is called a clear margin.
• Your surgeon may also remove lymph nodes in your armpit (axilla) to see if cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
• The surgeon will close the skin with stitches. These may dissolve or need to be removed later. A drain tube may be placed to remove excess fluid.

Your doctor will send the lump to a laboratory for testing.

Risks of Breast lump removal

Risks for any surgery are:

• Bleeding
• Infection
• Reactions to medications

Risks for this procedure are:

• The appearance of your breast may change. After surgery, you may notice dimpling, a scar, or a difference in shape between the two breasts.
• You may also have numbness in the breast area.

The breast tissue that is removed will be looked at under a microscope after the surgery. If the cancer is too close to the edge of this tissue, you may need another procedure to remove more breast tissue.

Female Breast	Needle biopsy of the breast	Open biopsy of the breast	Breast self-exam
Breast self-exam	Breast self-exam	Breast lumps	Lumpectomy
Causes of breast lumps	Breast lump removal - series

Review Date: 1/28/2011
Reviewed By: Debra G. Wechter, MD, FACS, General Surgery practice specializing in breast cancer, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washingon. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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