When a palpable solid breast mass is highly suspicious for breast cancer, a needle biopsy in the office can obtain tissue for pathology to confirm the diagnosis. A small needle is quickly inserted into the mass and tissue is removed with suction. Needle biopsy is not performed for solid masses that are not likely to be a cancer because if the biopsy shows no cancer, an open breast biopsy is mandated. Because the tip of the needle might miss the cancerous tissue, a negative (benign) needle biopsy is meaningless.