Mammo/Ultrasound Results

[bodo]

I have been a melanoma patient for 9 years--all stage 1. This past November a doctor at Sloan Kettering removed from my right armpit 11 reactive (but benign) lymph nodes (he went in thinking he was removing a benign tumor. I DID NOT have a mammo done before the surgery.

A mammo and ultrasound were done this week and reveal: MAMMO: There has bee interval development of a nodule approximately 13mm in size. Corresponding to the nodule by mammo there is a 1.2 cm hypoechoic solid nodule with some microlobulations.

What are the chances of this also being benign?

[CCF-RN,MSN-rf]

Dear bodo:  When a mammogram is done there is generally some comment as to the character of the nodule and a corresponding BIRAD score indicating the level of suspicion of the radiologist.  An ultrasound is usually done to differentiate a cystic (fluid filled) nodule from a solid nodule.  Without reviewing the mammogram and ultrasound views it is impossible for us to speculate as to what the nodule is and whether it may be benign or malignant.  It may be that a biopsy will be necessary.  You should discuss these reports with your melanoma specialist first, and perhaps even a surgeon (maybe even a breast specialist surgeon) who may be able to explain these results and make appropriate recommendations.

[surgeon]

a solid nodule with microlobulations is likely to be benign: lobulations mean sort of cauliflower-like edges, whereas cancer usually has spiky edges. However, a newly appearing solid nodule most likely needs biopsy to be certain.