Don’t understand some things

Ja9831

Can someone explain thedifference between mass and non mass?

Georgia1

Hi there. I've pasted below the explanation from an MRI tech of three categories they use, but this description is still pretty wonky. My limited understanding is that either (mass or non-mass) can be cancer and either can be benign:

• Focus (or when multiple, foci) is an area of enhancement measuring less than 5 mm in diameter which is too small to characterize.
• A mass is a three-dimensional lesion that occupies a space within the breast.
Just as in mammography and ultrasound, we look at its shape, its margins and its internal characteristics: this includes its T1- and T2-characteristics as well its enhancement pattern.
• Non-masslike enhancements
are areas of enhancement without a detectable three-dimensional mass. Features of non-mass enhancement include its distribution, its internal enhancement pattern, and whether the enhancement is symmetric or asymmetric.

Ja9831

thank you for responding. I’m trying to understand a irregular non mass enchancement associated with architectural distortion

Georgia1

Yes, many women get that finding. Does your report have a BI-RADS rating? That might give you a clue. But it could very well be nothing to worry about. Architectural distortion is when "the normal architecture of the breast is distorted with no definite mass visible." There are several benign (non-cancerous) things it could be, including a radial scar; a sclerosing lesion; fat necrosis; or scar tissue from previous breast surgery. But because it has irregular margins your doctor is going to want to check it out with another test I bet, and possibly suggest you have it removed. I wish you the best.

Ja9831

Bi Rads 4 im having a sterotactic biopsy on my left breast and mri guided on my right breast.

Georgia1

Good luck! I had both of those too, tho not on the same day. The MRI-guided biopsy was a bit tougher to handle, but I made the tech talk with me all the way through it so I'd at least be distracted, and that worked. Then I treated myself to a lovely brunch and drove myself home; felt fine tho needed to use ice for a couple of hours as I recall.

Ja9831

thank for the reassurance to having these biopsies done. Not going to lie the idea of having them done was freaking me out a little. But it is what is! Needs to be done. I’m not doing them at the same time. Being that I have to wait for my next cycle for the mri guided one it will be done in February. The sterotactic will be done feb 12th. Everything is so confusing and frustrating cause no one is saying anything. Just that they don’t know. 3 reports were birads 0 the mri was a 4. So this is likeslow torture.