Report sounds worse than what was said in office.

Cochran80

Hi there. I’m 41 and went in for my first mammogram on 1/20. The report came back with this “There is an isodense, oval mass with circumscribed margins in the lateral aspect of the right breast at posterior depth.”

With that I was scheduled for a diagnostic mammogram and an ultrasound this past Monday.

The radiologist could not find it on the ultrasound. She told me she “favored” a fibroadneoma and that she would “suggest” I get a biopsy under x-Ray to have definitive knowledge instead of continuing “dragging our feet” and that it “isn’t urgent” and I can schedule it whenever it is best for me.

I set up the biopsy appointment and then I got the official report, which made me very upset because it sounds much more dire than what was presented in office.

“ULTRASOUND FINDINGS:

Targeted sonographic imaging of the upper outer quadrant right breast was performed by the technologist and myself. There is normal breast parenchyma. No suspicious mass is seen. There is no architectural distortion. No sonographic correlate is seen for the mass on mammogram.

IMPRESSION:

1. Right breast: BI-RADS Category 4, Suspicious abnormality. Biopsy should be considered. Oval low-density mass on mammogram with no definite sonographic correlate, possibly an isoechoic fibroadenoma. Recommendation at this time is for stereotactic/tomosynthesis guided biopsy for tissue sampling.”

Can someone help me make heads or tails what she told me vs. what the report says?

Thank you

MelissaDallas

Hi Cochran80 and sorry you are concerned.

Callbacks are extremely common on first mammograms because there are no old films to compare to as to what your normal is.

The report does say what she told you. It isn’t worse. Anything classified as a Bi-Rads 4 is going to say “suspicious” but that includes an awful lot of “barely suspicious.” Anything estimated to have even a 3% chance of being cancer is recommended for a biopsy. Oval, smooth and circumscribed are good. Those are consistent with a benign fibroadenoma, which your doc thinks it probably is. I think your doctor is just being prudent and wants to cionfirm, so going forward everyone knows what is there, not because anyone thinks you have cancer

Beesie

Cochran, I will confirm what MelissaDallas said. The description in the report matches exactly what you were told and doesn't sound particularly concerning.

BI-RADS 4 is always given if a biopsy is recommended. But most BI-RADS 4 biopsies are done to rule out cancer, not because cancer is suspected. I think it's pretty clear from the report and from what you were told that the Radiologist has suggested the biopsy to confirm her suspicion that this is a benign / harmless fibroadenoma.

When is your biopsy?

Cochran80

Thank you all! My biopsy is on 2/19, which is a Friday. The earliest they had was 2/16, but I thought 2/19 would allow me to take it easier for 24 hours.

My heart leapt in my throat when I read the report. Perhaps it was just my mindset coloring it, or it was the medical jargon that got me. I appreciate your help! <

AliceBastable

Didn't you see this part of the report?

No suspicious mass is seen. There is no architectural distortion. No sonographic correlate is seen for the mass on mammogram.

Rrobin0200

Alice,

I’m sure she saw that.... but like most of us, medical jargon is just that.. medical jargon. Anxiety sets in for me immediately when reading any type of report... benign, malignant, and/or anything in between. And if one is not up to par with medical terminology, it’s easy to get confused and has every right to ask questions.

AliceBastable

Rrobin0200, I merely wanted her to put the report in perspective instead of only seeing what she interpreted as more negative wording. Why does that bother you?