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Breast mass biopsy — USMLE Step 3 MCQ

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HardSurgery (Post-operative / Follow-up)Breast mass biopsyUSMLE Step 3

A 46-year-old has a firm irregular 2-cm breast mass. Diagnostic mammography and ultrasound show a suspicious solid lesion. Which next step is best?

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Correct answer: A — Arrange image-guided core-needle biopsy of the suspicious lesion

A suspicious lesion requires tissue diagnosis, usually by image-guided core-needle biopsy. Screening intervals, tumor markers, antibiotics, or MRI alone do not establish the diagnosis.

Reference: American College of Radiology, Palpable Breast Masses: https://acsearch.acr.org/docs/69495/Narrative/