Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Diagnosis

Sentinel lymph node biopsy

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At Mayo Clinic, you meet with your doctor to discuss the most appropriate approach for your care. Before developing a treatment plan, your doctor reviews your laboratory tests, X-rays, medical history, family history and prior cancer treatment.

To diagnose inflammatory breast cancer, your doctor removes and examines a small amount of skin and breast tissue (biopsy) for cancer cells. Mayo Clinic doctors were among the first in the country to offer biopsies guided by magnetic resonance imaging. These biopsies can eliminate the need for surgery if your tumor is noncancerous (benign). Such biopsies include mammotome, a breast biopsy technique that requires only a small incision. Your doctor inserts a probe into the area of possible cancer. The probe vacuums, cuts and removes tissue samples for examination. Your doctor may take multiple samples. Biopsy results at Mayo Clinic usually are available within 48 hours.

Evaluation of lymph nodes

Breast cancer usually spreads first to the underarm (axillary) lymph nodes. If your doctor finds cancer in your breast, he or she may remove some underarm lymph nodes to determine if the cancer has spread. Doctors at Mayo Clinic use the following procedures to evaluate the lymph nodes:

• Fine-needle aspiration. In a fine-needle aspiration, your doctor inserts a thin, hollow needle into your breast to remove a tissue sample. Doctors may perform fine-needle aspiration prior to surgery if lymph nodes appear abnormal by ultrasound exam or MRI.
• Sentinel lymph node biopsy. At Mayo Clinic, doctors routinely perform sentinel lymph node biopsies to determine whether cancer has spread. Sentinel lymph node biopsy spares many people the need for more surgery and decreases the risk of complications.

Read more about sentinel lymph node biopsy at MayoClinic.com.