Preoperative work-up in breast surgery

Our patients who are to undergo breast surgery are placed into one of four groups with a number of subdivisions. Each has a variable amount of preoperative work-up depending on the patient's age and constitutional status, the degree of suspicion as to the malignancy of the lesion, the type of anesthesia (local or general), the place where the biopsy is being done (in-patient or out-patient)and on the type of informed consent signed by the patient. Breast x-rays are used on a judicious and selective basis and thermography and ultrasound are used routinely.