mamogram i am confused

Hi i was diagnoised with microcalifications i went for a sterio tech on monday which went fine but then the p.a. came in and said we have to do this again he told me he missed the califications they could not find them in the tissue  so i prepare for them to do it again then there seems to be a problem he is short with the needle they try to move me several times the next thing i know i am told imagine marbles on a table when you look down they are scattered then they tell me from the side they look clustered ok my question is do they use both views side and straight down or do they go by one view the side view why did they go in to begin with this is just so scary for me i tryed to have sterio tach 5 months ago and they could not find them i go back take mamo find out they are still thier and end up with all these problem i am confused if they tell you we see microcalifications how many views does it take to find them and shouldn't they use both views before making a diagnoises

[japdip]

When biopsies are done the microcalcifications are usually viewed and the biopsy is done according to this mapping procedure. It does happen occasionally that the area is missed but it shouldn't happen too often. Perhaps a different type of biopsy would be a better option or you could certainly request a different Radiologist/Surgeon (whichever did your first biopsy). This is your right as a patient and I believe I would take advantage of it under these circumstances.  Good Luck .... it shouldn't be this traumatic.

[madgeOwens]

Did they also do a ultrasound?  They did mammogram and ultrasound to find mine.  The steriotatic biopsy should be set up that the computer tells them right exactly where to go in to find calcifications.  I agree if they are incompetent go else where.

[blueskyabq]

Which is better - the steriotatic biopsy or ultrasound biopsy?

[blueskyabq]

Why they said that Ultrasound could not find calcification because they are too small, only mammogram will do?  But also said that need magnification view to be sure? And again, if breast tissue is dense, the will be less accurate?

[braveheart2]

Microcalcifications that are difficult to see on the original mammogram can usually be visualized on a mammo with magnification. Once pinpointed, the radiology MD should confirm the exact location with additional mammos taken from the side view and the top view -- it is with this information that the correct coordinates are obtained for accurate sterotactic core needle biopsy. This should be done with you already in position on the table BEFORE any needles are actually inserted...even with these precautions, they still occasionally "miss" (which is why they X-ray the core samples to make sure they got the calcifications) -- if this happens, they should reposition and re-X-ray you while you are still on the table before trying again.

It is a bit more difficult to visualize abnormalities to start with if you have dense breast tissue, but once the location of the microcalcs is pinpointed I understand they are apparently no harder to biopsy in someone with dense breasts than in someone with normal density. Kind regards...

[charlotte19]

Thanks for your responce i am still confused and still waiting for the results of the byopsy i am praying that they did get the calcs so i can be at eas with this all process which i feel has just been a mess from the beginning. Been going through this since feb 2008. I would just like someone to be honest with me the P.A.  told me to do another mamo in 6 months to see what is going on meanwhile they missed the calcs which i do not understand then they tell me i had a biopsy i should of never had. Which is why i ask do they use one view from mamo or both views   shouldn't the calcs apear on both views instead of just one (views are taken from the side and straight down if they do not apear on the view straight down and look scattered and only from the side they look clustered should they be doing a biopsy at all i know i may sound crazy but really i am scared walking around with this awful fear being snippy to those around me  because i am trying to understand all of this.  Help!!!!!      

[braveheart2]

The waiting is the absolute worst, I agree...it sounds like they are trying their best for you, but you were unlucky that they missed the microcalcifications. In my opinion, it is far too stressful to wait another 6 months before getting the answers you need. Can you talk to your MD or a different radiologist and ask them to go over your films with you, making a different plan to biopsy the microcalcs if this biopsy comes back with inconclusive results?

Keep us posted!

[madgeOwens]

I think the magnification and digital mammogram is right...I thin they were using ultrasound for another thing I had in addition to the microcalcifications. Good luck