Breast lump removal

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Breast Lump Removal: Illustrated Series	Breast lumps	Breast self-exam	Breast self-exam
Breast self-exam	Causes of breast lumps	Female breast	Lumpectomy
Needle biopsy of the breast	Open biopsy of the breast

Lumpectomy; Wide local excision; Excisional biopsy

You may have pain and soreness after the procedure.

Since a lumpectomy removes a portion of the breast, there may also be a change in the breast's appearance. Dimpling, a noticeable scar, or asymmetry of the two breasts may occur, depending on the size and location of the lump and the size of the breast.

There is a chance that some microscopic pieces of the lump may be left behind, which would need to be removed with another operation.

Risks for any surgery include the following:

• Bleeding
• Infection

Risks for any anesthesia include the following:

• Reactions to medications
• Breathing problems, pneumonia
• Heart problems

For a woman who is in otherwise good health, the risk of a serious complication due to general anesthesia is less than 1%.

Review Date: 06/07/2006
Reviewed By: J.A. Lee, M.D., Division of Surgery, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.