services

Diagnostic and Minimally-Invasive Surgeries

Excisional Biopsies

Done in the operating room when a needle biopsy cannot be obtained or is inconclusive, this surgical procedure removes a palpable or imaging abnormality for diagnosis.

Duct Excision

Often performed for abnormal nipple discharge or a small growth inside a milk duct, this outpatient procedure removes the last portion of a few or all of the ducts.

Wire or Needle Radioactive Seed Localization

A procedure done to localize or target the abnormal area in the breast when it cannot be felt on examination; it may be performed by your surgeon or a radiologist prior to your surgery, although it can be, at times, performed intra-operatively.

Needle Biopsies

Generally preferred over operative biopsies, these are done with local anesthesia and take a small amount of tissue while using image guidance, to make a diagnosis of benign or malignant breast disease. They may be done in one of our offices with ultrasound guidance, or for certain imaging abnormalities, at a hospital using mammography, called stereotactic needle biopsy. They can often be done in-office.

Oncoplastic Surgery

This innovative approach to the treatment of breast cancer utilizes plastic surgery techniques to reshape the remaining breast or reconstruct the breast after excision of a malignancy. It may also include correcting any imbalance relative to the unaffected breast.

Lumpectomy

Removes just the tumor and a small amount of surrounding tissue. Radiation therapy is usually recommended following a lumpectomy done for cancer to reduce recurrence rates.

Axillary Surgeries

Axillary surgeries are approached through the underarm to examine or remove lymph nodes.

Axillary Node Dissections

Removal of more lymph nodes than in the Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy--this procedure may be done when the cancer is already known to have spread to the lymph nodes.

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsies

Using special dyes, this procedure samples the first few lymph nodes in the underarm which drain the breast in order to determine spread of disease and stage.

Mastectomies

Mastectomy involves the surgical removal of the entire breast.

Skin-Sparing

For women opting for immediate breast reconstruction, much of the skin is left intact allowing for a more natural-looking reconstructed breast. This procedure is performed in coordination with a reconstructive plastic surgeon.

Modified Radical

The entire breast and some of the underarm lymph nodes are removed.

Radical Mastectomy

Rarely performed anymore, in this procedure the surgeon removes the entire breast, all of the underarm lymph nodes, and chest wall muscles under the breast.

Simple/Total

The breast is removed but the lymph nodes under the arm and muscle tissue beneath the breast are not routinely removed. It may be combined with lymph node sampling, such as a sentinel lymph node biopsy.

Nipple-Sparing

When possible, based on physiological factors of the tumor and aesthetic concerns, this technique preserves the nipple and areola and is combined with immediate reconstruction.

Prophylactic Mastectomy

Usually performed on the unaffected breast for risk reduction when a woman is undergoing a mastectomy for breast cancer. It may also be done for women with a  high risk of getting breast cancer.

Other Services

  • As a breast specialist, Dr. Davis will review all of your medical reports and test results, give an opinion about your diagnosis, and suggest treatment options. A second opinion may confirm your original doctor’s diagnosis and treatment plan, provide more details about the type and stage of breast cancer, raise additional treatment options you hadn’t considered, or recommend a different course of action.

  • Dr. Davis can order and review breast imaging to determine diagnoses, care plans, and next steps.

  • As a specialist in both benign and malignant breast disease, Dr. Davis can evaluate your symptoms, order further testing, and determine the best course of action for your breast health.

  • Brachytherapy uses thin tubes (catheters) to deliver internal radiation directly to the lumpectomy site to destroy cancer cells and shrink tumors.

  • Dr. Davis is happy to meet with patients to evaluate and discuss their genetic predisposition and other risk factors for breast cancer.

  • Dr. Davis enjoys engaging with the community to speak about breast cancer, early detection, survivorship, and other educational topics.