Breast Surgery Every year, thousands of women discover breast lumps during self-examination. Four out of five lumps are benign, posing little or no risk. Even normal breasts may feel lumpy, or tender and swollen at various times due to hormonal changes. Rarer malignant lumps require prompt treatment; routine examination and early discovery can help prevent them from spreading to surrounding tissues.      ASA Services Breast Surgery Information Outpatient Preop Inpatient Preop Surgery Postop Biopsy Postop Examination and Diagnosis If you discover a breast lump, contact your physician as soon as possible. Your doctor will assess your medical history and administer several tests to determine the nature of the lump. Physical examinations and mammograms help detect the location and size, while ultrasound tests distinguish between solid lumps and fluid-filled cysts. Biopsy can determine conclusively whether a lump is benign or malignant. Needle biopsy uses a small needle to take a sample for further testing. With open biopsy, some or all of the lump is removed for examination under a microscope. Treatment Options If a biopsy reveals that a lump is malignant, a number of treatment options are available to suit your conditions and needs. Lumpectomy is best suited for small lumps. It removes the lump and a small portion of normal tissue surrounding it, preserving the breast. Radiation therapy is often used as a follow-up. In serious cases where the lump has spread to surrounding tissues, a mastectomy will remove the lump and the breast. For many mastectomy patients, reconstructive surgery can recreate the look of a natural breast. Discussion with a plastic surgeon can help determine the best option after surgery. [Main]  [Services]  [Surgeons]  [About ASA]  [Instructions]  [Locations]  [Contact Us] This page is for information purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for a doctor's advice or diagnosis. Contents & design copyright 1998, 2000, Advanced Surgical Associates.