Breast Care
Our Breast Care practice focuses on treatment of breast diseases including in office biopsy, excisional biopsy, lumpectomy and mastectomy. We treat both benign and malignant breast diseases.
Benign Breast Disease
Both women and men can develop breast lumps. Fortunately the majority of these lumps result from benign disease including breast cyst, fibroadenomas, fibrocystic breast changes, hyperplasia, intraductal papillomas or mammary duct ectasia (both may also cause nipple discharge), and lumps that develop after trauma from fat necrosis.
Nipple discharge may be a normal event due to hormonal fluctuations, infection, fibrocystic breast disease, medication side effects or result from intraductal papillomas or mammary duct ectasia. Although it can sometimes be a sign of a malignant process and should be evaluated.
Malignant Breast Disease
Malignant breast disease includes ductal carcinoma in situ (DICS) that is a cancer in its earliest stage (non-invasive) or precancerous (Stage 0), lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) which is not a cancer but increases a person’s risk of developing cancer later in life. Invasive cancers include ductal and lobular carcinoma. Invasive ductal carcinoma is the most common form of breast cancer.
Diagnosis of Breast Disease
Changes in the breast can be found on physical exam or radiology studies such as mammograms or ultrasound. These changes or findings include fluid filled cysts, solid masses, or microcalcifications. When found, a diagnosis can be made by history and physical exam, sampling the finding (such as a biopsy) or removal of the entire area. We offer in-office biopsy with needle biopsy and local anesthetic or excisional biopsy in the operating room with anesthesia. Each patient and breast finding is different. We will evaluate you individually for the best course to reach your diagnosis.
Treatment of Breast Disease
Once an appropriate diagnosis is obtained we offer several procedures for treating breast disease. Options include lumpectomy, which is removal of part of the breast; and mastectomy, which is removal of the entire breast. If indicated we can also sample the near by lymph nodes to determine if any cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes (sentinel lymph node biopsy).