Plot thickens :( Have had a lesion for 2 years/not reported.

Esperanza123258615

I wrote previously about a recent mammogram that discovered a 1.2 cm lesion. I had complained of pain in this area two years ago and had received a more comprehensive study at that time. The previous study used computer aided detection and the report stated *no* masses or suspicious areas, unremarkable.

However, last week I was notified that my latest mammogram showed a lesion in the exact area I had previously called to their attention. I was asked to come back straight away for an ultrasound. While at the clinic for the US, I asked repeatedly if they had found this on the previous films and was never answered. Today. I consulted another radiologist at the local hospital. He pulled up the original studies and it was indeed there two years ago! It had been noted it on the films and even measured. I was dumbfounded. It is not appreciably larger so hopefully that is good news, but it is not a cyst, either. This was all done at a breast clinic. Their ONLY job is to image breast tissue and report their findings. How could something like this happen??? It would be one thing to miss a lesion, but it is something all together different to actually find it and then fail to report it altogether.

The radiologist overseeing the US on Friday tried to get me to have a core biopsy on the spot but I demurred. I have zero confidence in their organization. Now I have been scheduled by my PCP to see a pathologist who ONLY does fine needle biopsy. The local breast surgeon I am told will only see you after a DX and does not do biopsies.

Now I am trying to decide if one is superior to the other. Due to the pain this causes me, even if benign, I want it taken out. So perhaps it doesn't matter...

I have a sense of urgency about this that may be way out of proportion to the actual danger. At this point I can't see the forest for the trees. It really bothers me that I have been walking around for at least three years with my little tumor friend. I didn't go in right away when I was first noticing this pain. My husband wanted to know if I could wait to do this (biopsy, surgery, whatever) but I don't feel I should.

MTwoman

Esperanza, it really is helpful if you update your original thread with this information, instead of starting a new one, as anyone who is just reading this one is missing quite a bit of important back-story. Also, if you start multiple threads, it can be hard to remember to go back and update each one once you have more info or a final diagnosis (other women come and peruse old threads that seem similar to their own and try to find out what eventually happened to the OP).

the other thing I wanted to pass along is that the "resident" radiologist on these boards has described the differences between fine needle and core biopsy, (I'll try to find that thread and drop it in later) and he recommends core, as fine needle can come back as "not enough sample" or only sample a limited area, but core needles make an actual core sample and that is preferable. So if one of your options ONLY does fine needle, you should consider that limitation.

good luck!

Esperanza123258615

Thank you. Duly noted re thread. I would love to see the core vs fine needle link. I will hunt for it. I think I will go elsewhere if that is the case.