fat necrosis or tumor?

lopsided_blogger

I just had a biopsy of a lump that might be fat necrosis from my DIEP reconstruction--or it might  be a recurrence, although I highly doubt it's a recurrence. There are a few areas of fat necrosis, but this one lump seemed raised higher and seemed like it was changing and/or growing. Now I just wait and hope that they even got the right spot. It's impossible to know what they're doing when you're lying down and have no feeling in the area anyway. Here's my question, which I didn't really get an answer for: If there's a large area of fat necrosis, can an ultrasound distinguish between that and a tumor that might form on top of or within that area? If they got the right spot, I guess I'll know what my particular spot is, but I'm wondering in general, for the future.

Thanks.

Carlatap

Hi Lopsided-I have to smile at your name cuz I'm very lopsided too due to complications with my reconstruction. I also had to have a biopsy done which was found to be fat necrosis. I asked my surgeon when getting the tissue through biopsy if he can feel any difference as he is putting the needle in and out and he actually said yes. I guess if  its fat tissue the needle goes right through easier, and if its a different type of lump it can feel grainier and thicker for the needle to go through. I don't know if this helps but thats what I was told. When he was doing my biopsy he also poked me 4 times in different places of the lump. Anyway, this was my experience. I'm just happy my turned out to fat necrosis rather than a recurrence or another primary. I really hope and pray your outcome is the same as mine.  I also have various large lumps of fat necrosis above the reconstruction area. One is the same same size as the inside of my hand. This is all going to be taken care of with the 2nd stage of surgery. I wish you all the best!