Breast Parenchyma/Heterogenously dense

[Lilly1313]

I just received the results of a mammogram and the findings state the following:
"The breast parenchyma is heterogenously dense.  There is a 12mm nodule in the upper inner quadrant of the right breast.  The border appears well defined, however is partially obscured.  No suspicious findings on the left."
My questions are as follows:
1-  is it unusual or normal to initially find a 12 mm nodule in a heterogenously dense breast mammogram?
2-  Is a 12mm nodule on the larger side of a finding?
3-  what are they referring to when they state, "The boder appears well defined."?  What border are they referring to?
(the bone or the border of the nodule?)
4-  What typ of scan or machine or testing would you recomend to further evaluate this finding?
Thank You....Your input would be greatly appreciated.


This discussion is related to Breast pain .

[Lilly1313]

Thank you so very much for your helpful response.  It is geatly appreciated.

[Dr_Aparna]

Hi,
In medicine, a nodule refers to a small aggregation of cells.
1.A potential abnormality on a mammogram may be called a nodule, mass, lump, density or distortion.
2.In relation to the breast size it would be on the smaller side. Sice the border is obscured partially it is difficult to comment on the actual size .
3.They are referring to the outline of the nodule.A mass (lump) with a smooth, well-defined border is often benign.
4.Ultrasound is needed to characterize the inside of a mass -- if the mass contains fluid, it is called a cyst.
A mass (lump) that has an irregular border or a star-burst appearance (spiculated) may be cancerous and a biopsy is usually recommended.
A breast biopsy is performed to remove some cells—either surgically or through a less invasive procedure involving a hollow needle—from a suspicious area in the breast and examine them under a microscope to determine a diagnosis. During a breast biopsy, part or all of a tumor may be removed.
ref:http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/guide/mammogram-results
http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=breastbixr&bhcp=1