Just had a needle biopsy of the breast...What does it mean if the specimen floats?

Question

I have checked on the web for information on if the specimen floats or sinks...the information was too medical and technical...For the most part, it appears that there is a more likely chance that it is malignant if it floats...anyone know??? Docs, Nurses, Lab Techs??? Please.

Answer 1

It doesn't mean that much.

Specifically it means if a specimen floats - it has density LESS than saline (or formaldehyde or whatever it is they put the specimen in).

Malignant Tumours tend to be packed tightly with cells growing in an uncontrolled manner - they tend to be less well differentiated (less well formed into cells of a specific organ) and so tend to be more tightly packed masses for smaller volume and therefore more dense.

Malignant tumour samples are more likely to sink than to float.

However this is hardly a satisfactory test as there are malignancies where the samples will float. It depends on the cell types present and how tightly packed they are. There is no table of which samples float / sink being able to differentiate between benign and malignant. Particularly with regard to a structure as glandular as the breast.

If your sample floated - that's a promising sign, but that's all. Wait for the lab guys to tell you what cells they can see. That is FAR more meaningful.

Answer 2

One site I found states that if the specimin SINKS it has a higher chance of malignancy.