Category Reference
Breast Procedures
6 procedures tested on the ABS Certifying Exam
Breast cases test your fluency with BI-RADS imaging, biopsy techniques, multidisciplinary management of in-situ and invasive cancer, axillary staging (sentinel lymph node vs axillary dissection), oncoplastic options, and management of benign disease (fibroadenoma, abscess, atypia). Examiners frequently challenge sentinel node decisions and the implications of neoadjuvant therapy.
Lumpectomy / Partial Mastectomy
Excision of a breast tumor with a rim of surrounding normal tissue, preserving the breast. Combined with whole-breast radiation, lumpectomy provides equivalent overall survival to …
Total / Simple Mastectomy
Complete removal of all breast tissue including the nipple-areolar complex. The examiner expects you to know the indications: multicentric/multifocal disease, positive margins afte…
Modified Radical Mastectomy
Total mastectomy combined with axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) of levels I and II, preserving the pectoralis major and minor muscles. The examiner expects you to know the ner…
Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (Breast)
Identification and removal of the first lymph node(s) draining the breast tumor to stage the axilla without a full axillary dissection. The ACOSOG Z0011 trial revolutionized axilla…
Axillary Lymph Node Dissection (ALND)
Surgical removal of axillary lymph nodes at levels I and II (lateral and posterior to the pectoralis minor muscle) for staging and regional control of breast cancer. The examiner e…
Excisional Biopsy / Needle-Localized Excision
Surgical removal of a breast lesion for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, often guided by a localization device (wire, radioactive seed, or radar reflector) for nonpalpable lesio…
Practice Breast cases with an AI examiner
Talk through these procedures out loud, exam style. The AI examiner adapts to your answers and introduces complications.