After an abnormal mammogram, further tests such as a second mammogram, fine needle aspiration, core needle biopsy, surgical biopsy, or ultrasound may be done to confirm a diagnosis. These tests help determine if there are any abnormalities or cancerous cells in the breast tissue.
After abnormal mammogram test results are returned, a few other tests will be done to confirm a diagnosis. An abnormal mammogram doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong, although many women may fear the worst. Doctors will order a second mammogram test if the original films taken were blurry or unclear. A fine needle aspiration, core needle biopsy, or surgical biopsy may be completed if your doctor finds a mass in your breast tissue. Your doctor may also do an ultrasound to view any masses.
An abnormal mammogram may be the result of blurry scans, or a doctor might order a series of diagnostic mammograms that focus on an area of the breast that was of interest to the doctor. The test is performed by asking the woman to stand in front of a machine and place her breast on a clear plastic sheet. There is another sheet of clear plastic over the woman, which pulls down and compresses her breasts. The woman must remain as still as possible while an X-ray machine takes a black and white image of the breast tissue.
If the original or diagnostic x-ray results show suspicious masses or tissue, a doctor may order a fine needle aspiration. The long, thin needle is inserted through the breast into the mass or lump. A doctor will extract fluid from the lump and test the cells for abnormalities.
Core needle biopsies use a larger needle with a hollow center. The needle is inserted numerous times to extract enough breast tissue to be examined. The tissue from the mass is examined for cancerous cells, but no stitches are needed after the procedure.
A surgical biopsy will be performed to remove a section or the entire lump contained within the breast tissue. The woman will be sedated during the procedure, which requires the surgeon to make a cut in the breast tissue to remove the lump and a fringe of tissue surrounding the lump. Your breast tissue will be examined for abnormal cells, and the surrounding tissue will be tested to determine if the cells have spread beyond the location of the tumor. This surgical procedure may affect the look and feel of a woman’s breasts, depending on the size and location of the lump in her.
Abnormal mammography results can be further tested by the use of ultrasound technology. Depending on the woman’s original films, the doctor may order an ultrasound to be able to see the lumps and determine if the masses are solid or if the tumors or cysts are filled with fluid. Ultrasounds produce high-level sound waves, and these waves bounce off the breast tissue and create a clear image of the mass. Your doctor may order a fine needle aspiration, core needle biopsy, or surgical biopsy after seeing the images produced during the ultrasound procedure.
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