Microcalcification in my breast what does this mean?

[daughter11]

I had a mammography for 1st time and was told I have mirocalcifications in my left breast, confirmed by a second mammography.  I was told to have a sterotatic biopsy.  I am told that  a permanent "clip" will remain in place after the biopsy for future follow-up. I'm scared.
This is all new to me @ 43 y/o I am clueless about what this all means and what I should be doing to deal with this problem.

If anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate the feedback.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

A clip is usually only left at a clustered area of microcalcifications.

If they are scattered , your surgeon will decide whether he/she wants to place a clip and if yes at what site.

Usually only one or two clips are left for site identification and also clips are not left in all cases.

You could talk about this with your doctor before your surgery to get some clue about his plan.

Do ask him about the follow up visit too.

Hope this helps.
Keep us posted.
Good luck.

[5isgr8]

Is there just one clip left in or at each spot that is biopsied? I'm scheduled for a stereotacitc biopsy next week.I Have more than one Pleomorphic calcification. They are not clustered.Will they biopsy each one and leave a clip and is the clip left in for life? Thanks for your help.

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,
microcalcifications mean that there are tiny deposits of calcium in your breast region. These are usually investigated for a confirmed diagnosis and to rule out a malignancy.
A sterotactic biopsy is an xray guided procedure done after local anesthesia to help in pain relief - a tissue is got from the site and sent for lab examination to get a confirmed diagnosis.
At the time of biopsy a clip is left to identify the site from where the tissue sample was taken, and note any change on later radiological investigations.
The procedure is a safe procedure and discuss it in detail with your doctor so that you are not so anxious.
Hope this helps.
Good luck.

[gardenstategal]

Hi -- sorry to hear about your microcalcifications.  I had a stereotactic biopsy in October.  It's really not that bad.   It takes about an hour to an hour and a half.   You lay face down on a table, with the affected breast in a hole in a table.  They will then squeeze the breast with a paddle-type instrument -- but nothing like a mammogram!   The physician then will give you a shot (just a little sting) to numb the area and then insert a needle to obtain samples of the microcalcifications.  That does not take very long.   There is no problem as far as the clip remaining in the breast - you'll never know it's  there.   Since the incision is so small, there's just a bandage put over the area.  They advised me to wait until the next morning to shower.  There was no soreness nor pain.  The only discomfort was to have to lay face down for an hour or so.

Best of luck to you.