Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
Fibrocystic breasts
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
Fibrocystic breasts
by JayDee_936, Aug 11, 2004 12:00AM
Would a fibrocystic condition show on an ultrasound and mammogram? Or would they come back fine and only be diagnosed by the doctor by doing a physical exam?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-rf, Aug 11, 2004 12:00AM
Dear jaydee_936: What is commonly called fibrocystic breasts may actually appear as dense breast tissue on mammogram - common for younger women. It also may feel "ropey" on examination. If the breasts are cystic (there are fluid filled cysts), this would show best on ultrasound.
Member Comments (2)
by surgeon, Aug 11, 2004 12:00AM
in one sense, it's a sort of general diagnosis, based on symptoms and to some extent on exam. The only way to diagnose it unequivocally is by biopsy. Mammogram cannot make a specific diagnosis of fibrocystic breast conditon; ultrasound can diagnose cysts; having them more or less by definition says there is fibrocystic condition, altho it's not impossible to have the occasional cyst without having extensive fibrocystic change on biopsy. The term is often used a bit loosely, to describe women with generally lumpy and tender breasts, especially when the lumpiness and tenderness increases premenstrually.
by mysugarmomma, Dec 12, 2008 12:09PM
A related discussion, Painful fibroids was started.
