Mammography

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Abnormal discharge from the nipple	Breast lumps	Causes of breast lumps	Female breast
Fibrocystic breast disease	Mammary gland	Mammogram

Mammogram

Breast tissue that shows no evidence of mass (aggregations of cells) or calcification is considered normal.

A well-outlined, regular, clear spot is more likely to be a non-cancerous lesion such as a cyst.

A poorly outlined, opaque area is more likely to suggest breast cancer (a benign lesion). However, not all breast cancers are perfectly round, and some cancers may appear well-defined.

Sometimes, the doctor will use ultrasound to further examine the problem and determine the next best step. When findings from a mammogram or ultrasound look suspicious, a biopsy is performed to determine if it a cancerous or non-cancerous condition.

Conditions under which a biopsy may be performed include:

• Breast cancer
• Breast infection
• Fibrocystic breast disease
• Lumps in the breasts
• Breast pain
• Nipple discharge

Review Date: 08/22/2006
Reviewed By: Jonathan Gross, M.D., Department of Radiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.