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


Mammography

Alternative Names:
Mammogram

Normal Values:

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



What abnormal results mean:

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

A poorly outlined, opaque area is more likely to suggest breast cancer. However, not all benign lesions are perfectly round, and some cancers may appear well-defined. Sometimes, the doctor will use ultrasound to further examine the abnormality and evaluate the next best step. When findings from a mammogram or ultrasound look suspicious, a biopsy is performed to determine if a lesion is benign or cancerous.

Conditions under which the test may be performed include the following:




Review Date: 7/21/2004
Reviewed By: Jeffrey J. Brown, MD, FACR, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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