Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Assessment and Management of Patients with Breast Disorders Related

Review Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017) - Assessment and Management of Patients with Breast Disorders related questions and content

A patient at high risk for breast cancer is scheduled for an incision biopsy in the outpatient surgery department. When the nurse is providing preoperative education, the patient asks why an incision is being done instead of just removing the mass. What would be the nurses best response?

  • A. An incision is performed because its known to be less painful and more accurate than other forms of testing.
  • B. An incision is performed to confirm a diagnosis and so that special studies can be done that will help determine the treatment.
  • C. An incision is performed to assess the potential for recovery from a mastectomy.
  • D. An incision is performed on patients who are younger than the age of 40 and who are otherwise healthy.
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Incisional biopsy removes a portion of the mass to confirm breast cancer and allows for specialized studies to guide treatment. It is not chosen for pain, age, or mastectomy recovery assessment, and complete mass removal may not be feasible or necessary initially.