An evaluation of the changing approach to the diagnosis of breast masses

For what we believe are varied and compelling reasons, the majority of physicians in our hospital have abandoned the traditional inpatient approach to the evaluation and treatment of a woman with a breast mass. We attempt to tailor the diagnostic procedure to fit the most probable pathology. In general, we believe a patient with carcinoma should have the diagnosis established by needle biopsy. This allows complete staging, the development of an appropriate treatment plan and gives us the opportunity for frank and open discussion with our patients. Those patients with probable benign disease should have the diagnosis established by an outpatient biopsy performed using a local anesthetic.