Further evaluation

[surfer girl]

I am 35 and had my first mammogram two weeks ago as part of my regular physical. (My doctor advised I have one to establish a baseline for future mammograms.) I have received the following report:

Left Breast -- Category 0
1. The breast is heterogeneously dense. This may lower the sensitivity of mammography. Focal asymmetric density at 3 o'clock posteriorly. Without prior films for comparison, further assessment with spot compression views recommended.

2. An equal density round mass with partially circumscribed, partially obscured margins is present measuring 4 mm in the axillary tail region posteriorly. This may represent a lymph node, however, further spot compression views recommended.

Right Breast -- Category 0
The breast is heterogeneously dense. This may lower the sensitivity of mammography. An equal density round mass with circumscribed margins is present measuring 9 mm posteriorly. Without prior films for comparison, further assessment with spot compression views recommended.

My doctor's office scheduled spot compression views this week, as well as an ultra sound if needed.

I guess I've been thrown a bit by what I thought was going to be a routine first mammogram. With that in mind, my two questions are: 1) How concerned should I be about these types of results? 2) Are there any questions I should know to ask during the upcoming spot compression evaluations and ultra sound?

Thank you in advance for furthering my understanding of this process.

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear Surfer girl:  It's way too early to be too worried.  These results are quite common for young women with first time mammograms.  Breast tissue in young women is very dense, making mammography difficult to interpret.  Sometimes in the setting of a screening mammogram, tissue can roll over on itself and cause densities to appear.  Once spot compression is done, these often resolve.  If the density remains, an ultrasound will be done to determine whether the density is solid or cystic.  Most of the time, the conclusion is that all is okay.

[surgeon]

It's not rare to have such findings on an initial mammogram. The descriptions sound pretty innocent, but it's the right thing to be sure by getting further info. I don't think there's much to ask during the upcoming exams; they need to be done and interpreted. Likely, they'll get you off the hook.