Excisional Biopsies for Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Lumps in Nigerian Women

In developed countries where technology for breast cancer treatment is advanced, fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) known as minimally invasive breast biopsy (MIBB), has been advocated as an initial pathological diagnosis (1, 2). However, in developing countries like Nigeria excisional biopsy of a breast lump is advocated as the first line of diagnosis (except in some cases), and possible treatment of a breast lump (3, 4). MIBB is championed in the United States because open biopsies add to more surgical costs, inconvenience (to the patient), morbidity and scarring (1, 2). However, in Nigerian women, the main concern is removing the breast lesion (3). Considerations of cosmetic appearance of the breast are less important to the Nigerian patient than being completely rid of the lump (3, 4). The case presented below shows that FNAB as the first line of pathological diagnosis may carry more emotional and financial burden for the patient than immediate excisional biopsy of an obvious breast mass.