Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with GoogleGet your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
Mammogram Done. Fibroid S Or Cancer?
Hello - I was just called yesterday from my hospital and was told I needed to be re-checked after a mammogram was done last Friday, April 19th. I was told that changes have occurred since my last check over a year ago and that I had two focal areas of breast nodules that area size 12x5x5 mm; and another 10x3x3mm. Of course, I am concerned and no one will no if they are cancerous until I am re-checked...just wondering if that is a common size for fibroids or just fatty tissue. I am going back for pictures and an ultrasound.
Wed, 24 Apr 2013
Hello
Welcome to healthcare magic.
It is not possible to tell about type of tumor from size because sometimes even small tumor are cancerous while big tumor can be non-cancerous.
One way of knowing what type of nodule you have is looking at BIRADS catagory of lesion.It is nothing but standard way of catagorizing finding of mammogram in scale of 0-6
Category Diagnosis Number of Criteria
0 Incomplete Your mammogram or ultrasound didn't give the radiologist enough information to make a clear diagnosis; follow-up imaging is necessary
1 Negative There is nothing to comment on; routine screening recommended
2 Benign A definite benign finding; routine screening recommended
3 Probably Benign Findings that have a high probability of being benign (>98%); six-month short interval follow-up
4 Suspicious Abnormality Not characteristic of breast cancer, but reasonable probability of being malignant (3 to 94%); biopsy should be considered
5 Highly Suspicious of Malignancy Lesion that has a high probability of being malignant (>= 95%); take appropriate action
6 Known Biopsy Proven Malignancy Lesions known to be malignant that are being imaged prior to definitive treatment; assure that treatment is completed
If the lesion is suspicious,doctor will do Fine needle aspiration cytology to determine type of the nodule. So no need to worry.
Regards
Welcome to healthcare magic.
It is not possible to tell about type of tumor from size because sometimes even small tumor are cancerous while big tumor can be non-cancerous.
One way of knowing what type of nodule you have is looking at BIRADS catagory of lesion.It is nothing but standard way of catagorizing finding of mammogram in scale of 0-6
Category Diagnosis Number of Criteria
0 Incomplete Your mammogram or ultrasound didn't give the radiologist enough information to make a clear diagnosis; follow-up imaging is necessary
1 Negative There is nothing to comment on; routine screening recommended
2 Benign A definite benign finding; routine screening recommended
3 Probably Benign Findings that have a high probability of being benign (>98%); six-month short interval follow-up
4 Suspicious Abnormality Not characteristic of breast cancer, but reasonable probability of being malignant (3 to 94%); biopsy should be considered
5 Highly Suspicious of Malignancy Lesion that has a high probability of being malignant (>= 95%); take appropriate action
6 Known Biopsy Proven Malignancy Lesions known to be malignant that are being imaged prior to definitive treatment; assure that treatment is completed
If the lesion is suspicious,doctor will do Fine needle aspiration cytology to determine type of the nodule. So no need to worry.
Regards
I find this answer helpful
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer.
For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service
[Sample answer]
Related questions you may be interested in
Recent questions on Breast cancer
Loading Online Doctors....