Complex Mass on U/S

[JBee70]

Hi,
My best friend had an ultrasound on the area just left of the left breast (not quite under the arm). It showed a "complex mass" around 3 millimeters by 4 millimeters. They are sending her to have a biopsy (needle I think).
The mass does not hurt, she has had it for a few months now and it has not grown. It does not appear to be moveable, but its hard to tell. It can be felt without too much pressure.
I am nervous for her.. What types of things are typical of malignant growths as opposed to benign ones?
Thanks for reading!

[angelicbreeze]

hi, i have a question and hoping someone may have an idea what this is..on my left arm just above the bend(if you had palm up arm held out) about an inch up from bend and towards the back of arm. there is a oval shaped mass, it feels squishy yet has solid edges and like tenticle type tip, i found this last oct and it has grown some right now it is about 1 1/2 inches long and about an inch in width, it does move around when i touch it, but only a tiny bit, pressing on it doesnt hurt, i did have bilateral mastectomies 15 yrs ago for low grade bc, no treatments followed, i do not have insurance anymore and this thing has me concerned. any help is greatly appreciated

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  A "complex mass" on ultrasound implies that it has an irregular shape, or that it consists of partly solid and partly fluid components.  Malignant growth such as breast cancer may present as irregular complex masses on ultrasound, but they usually present more as purely solid masses.  Other conditions which could also present as a complex mass near the breast are: 1) a loculated abscess (a collection of pus in multiple compartments) or 2) ectopic breast tissue (breast glands which grow outside the breast).  Ultimately, only a biopsy of the mass can differentiate between these various conditions, so this should be done at the soonest possible time.