Please help me understand my test results

bellatikka

I've been called back to do another few images and they also scheduled an ultrasound. Right breast was dense as well, but no findings of anything suspicious.

Left breast findings:

The breast is heterogenously dense (51-75% fibroglandular). This may lower the sensitivity of mammography. On the MLO projection superiorly there is an area of slightly denser tissue which correspond to a 1.3 cm x 1.2 cm nodule on the tomosynthesis slice 30/79 hence is at the 12-1:00 position which is not completely included on the CC images. There are no suspicious calcifications.

Then later it says:

Impression

Left Breast:

Focal asymmetry in the upper left breast posteriorly at 12-1:00 for which exaggerated CC with tom and possible true lateral images are indicated. If the abnormality persists, ultrasound may be indicated.

So my question is - where is that exactly on the breast...I'm guessing high up close to my armpit? Is that measurement width x height or height x width on the nodule? And how can they see calcifications with that amount of density?

Thanks in advance, I'm nervously awaiting my appointment on Monday, but it is always helpful to me to understand it.

MelissaDallas

As to density and calculifications, you are having a tomsynthesis, not a regular mammogram, which is better. Also, almost everyone has heterogeneously dense breasts. Extremely dense are more problematic.

MLO means mediolateral oblique (center of breast taken from inside towards outside. They are wanting more views to see if they can catch what they are just seeing on the edge of one view is what I'm reading into it. They also might do an ultrasound of the area to see if it looks problematic or not. They are also saying that they think that with other views the "whatever it is" may "compress out" and prove to not be a problem.