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Breast Cancer/mammogram screening results

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Expert: - 5/18/2009


Question
Just recieved my results they are requesting additional compression view and possible ultrasound. Would you please help me to interpet the results:

The overall breast tissue is heterogeneously dense. this may lower the sensativity of mammography. There is an approx. 10mm x 7mm rounded asymmetry in the upper left breast on the MLO view. This was not seen on prior mammograms. There are a feww benign calcifications on the left. No suspicious masses or calcifications are seen on the right.

I would apprectiate any insight. Thankyou

Answer
The main points are 1. that your breast tissues are dense. That makes it hard to find things there by mammography alone. Which is why ultrasound may be used and SHOULD be used. MRI breast scans SHOULD also be used for the same reason. 2. In your upper left breast is a dense area 10mmx7mm (1 inch = 25.4 mm) in size not seen on the other side and not seen in previous mammograms. This is probably what they want to examine further. That SHOULD also be done with MRI and ultrasound! A needle biopsy of the lesion SHOULD also be done and can quickly give us a diagnosis.

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Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D.

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I`m a doctor of medicine and a specialist in radiation therapy and medical oncology. I have long experience in diagnostics and treatment of breast tumours.

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I'm a Doctor of Medicine and specialist in Medical Oncology and Radiation Therapy educated & trained in Sweden. Now retired. Background in Radiation Therapy, Medical Oncology, Radiation Protection, Nuclear Medicine, Diagnostic Radiology, Gynecological Oncology, Clinical Pathology, Clinical Cytology,Hematology and Internal Medicine. M.D. from the faculty of medicine, Royal Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Have also been an exchange student at the Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem Israel. Former medical consultant, Swedish National Board of Radiation Protection. Former Police Surgeon and Medical Examiner, Stockholm Police Department. Former Chief Medical Officer, The Royal Guards, The Royal Horse Guards and the Royal Household Brigade, Royal Swedish Army Medical Corps.You can also reach me on: http://www.lifestylerescue.com/expert/health-fitness-advice/dr-claes-gustaf/128 I have no restrictions on the number of questions there.

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