Help me understand result. Please.

Shi1

I did a screening mammogram and the was called back two days later saying that I have to go back for diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound. Both breast have scattered fibroglandular tissue. I am 58 yrs old and this is my first mammogram. the report also states that my right breast has focal asymmetry 9 millimeter. my left breast has 3 asymmetric nodules 7mm, 4mm, and 3 mm. the locations are given in distance from the nipple. no microcalcifications. I am not sure, but I believe that no microcalcifications is a good thing? basically my question is, should I be concerned about the nodules, and what can they be? if it was bad, wouldn't the BIRADS be 3 or higher? Mine is a 0.

sheila888

Hi...0 means inconclusive..they have to repeat the test....

sheila888

Breast Imaging Reporting and Database System (BI-RADS)

Category Assessment Follow-up 0 Need additional imaging evaluation: means that more studies are necessary to gather more information. Additional imaging needed before a category can be assigned.

Shi1

Thank you for your respons . Do you know what the mammogram language means? I mean what are asymmetrical nodules? it did not say mass, or tissue.

sheila888

I don't know what it means...i googled it

Good luck and keep us updated

Sending hugs

Sheila

Shi1

thank you. I did too, and Icouldn't find anything either. That is why I came here. Thank you for trying, though. I will keep you updated.

leaf

Asymmetrical nodes means some nodes are larger than other nodes. Lymph nodes can be large for many non-cancerous reasons, including bacterial, viral, and fungal infections.

The focal asymmetry could indicate a problem, which is probably why they are advising US. In this recent paper, they looked at women with focal asymmetries. After patients with benign results, those considered stable, and those without prior mammograms were excluded, images from 521 studies were reviewed and 202 developing lesions were identified in 201 women.... Conclusion Developing asymmetries were malignant in 15% (95% CI: 11%, 21.1%) of patients. Presence of a US or MR imaging correlate was predictive of malignancy. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26583912

I am not sure if the 15% statistic takes into consideration the patients with benign results, but that means at least 85% of the women in this study with focal asymmetry had benign results. Those are pretty good odds to me. (Of course, I'd hope that no one got breast cancer, but I'd rather have a 85% chance of everything being fine rather than something lower.)

Hang in there; chances are good that everything will be fine.

dtad

Just want to chime in that BIRADS 0 means its inconclusive and further testing is needed. However that does not mean there will be a bad result. No micro calcifications is neither good or bad. Good luck and keep us posted.....

Shi1

Hello, thank you so much for the replies. I did a diagnostic mammogram today, and then went on to ultrasound. The ultrasound conclusion is that I have 6 cysts. So good news! I am shocked, but very much so relieved in the results. I have not had a menstrual cycle since I was 42 years old! As well, I never took HRT. I suppose weirder things can happen, but I am so relieved to have a clear bill of health at least for another year. I pray everyone else on this thread waiting gets the same good news! :-) hugs to everyone, support means everything in times of uncertainties!

Boyd748

So happy for you, no cancer! 😃😃😃😃