Repeat BI-RADS 3 results?

scarlettb

Hello,

I've lurked on these boards for a while: my friend was diagnosed and went through treatment for breast cancer a couple years ago and I stumbled onto this fantastic forum while trying to learn terminology, etc. to support her. I'm back now with my own question after searching far and wide and not finding anything that quite matches what I've got going on!

A screening mammogram mid-summer 2021 showed enough density in my R breast to warrant a diagnostic mamm + ultrasound. The result of that was BI-RADS 3 for a sub-cm hypoechoic nodule; repeat diagnostic mamm + US in 6 months.

The recent repeat diagnostic US is also a BI-RADS 3. It shows the following:

Multiple hypoechoic sub cm nodules of the 9 o'clock position of the right breast. At the 9 o'clock position, 3 cm from nipple there is a hypoechoic nonvascular non shadowing nodule 2.4 x 3.4 x 2.4 mm. At the 9 o'clock retroareolar position there is a vague hypoechoic nodule with some increased peripheral vascularity at 2.6 x 3.8 x 3.5 mm. At the 9 o'clock position, 2 cm from nipple there is a hypoechoic nonvascular non shadowing nodule at 4.6 x 5.1 x 2.3 mm. No other right breast sonographic abnormality is seen.

IMPRESSION: 1. There are 3 sub cm hypoechoic nodules in the right breast, 1 of which has slight increased vascularity in none of which show shadowing. The largest nodule on the current sonogram is smaller than the single nodule seen on on the July 2021 sonography study. The nodules present on the current sonogram could reflect benign cysts with internal debris or blood products, fibroadenomas, lymph nodes, although the etiology is not certain.

They want me to do a repeat US in 3-4 months, which seems... unusual for a BI-RADS 3? I was under the impression 6 months was the established return time for that. Any thoughts on that? And I guess what I'm wondering is how long can that BI-RADS 3 result go on - are there scenarios where you just keep getting that over and over?

Moderators

Dear scarlettb,

Welcome to the BCO community. We are sorry that these changes to your breast health have brought you here and glad that you reached out to our members. While you are waiting for others to respond to your post you may want to check out this link to more resources and information about Common Imaging Questions. You may find some help here. Please let us know if we offer additional assistance here as you try to gather information about all of this.

The Mods