Ask an Expert is a free question-and-answer service about breast cancer and breast health that is available on weekends. If you'd like to ask a question or comment, please visit us again on Saturday or Sunday. In the meantime, please search the existing topics using the search tool at the top of the page. It's quite possible that one of our many existing topics already addresses your question.
If you would like a consultation with a breast specialist at the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center, call 443-778-2778. It is possible to get an appointment for a second opinion within a few days of contacting us.
We hope you find the information helpful!
| Forum | Questions | Ask a Question | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Breast Abnormalities and Other Symptoms General questions about breast health and possible symptoms. |
12,362 |  |
| Asked | Publicly Submitted Question | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/18/2012 | My diag mammo and right breast u/s demonstrated a irregular elongated solid mass containing low level amplitude internal echoes indicating a likely solid nature with partially defined margins measuring 18 x 23 x 10 mm in the right breast lower outer quad. Internal exchotexture is hypoechoic relative to adipose tissue. There is central shadowing. Mass is avascular. Suspicious abnormality (ACR BIRADS4) Can you explain what all this means in regular language? | ||
| Replied | JHU's Breast Center Reply | ||
| 3/19/2012 | Thank you for turning to the Johns Hopkins Breast Center. BIRADS 4 indicates need for a biopsy. Her I have copied from our site: "BIRADS 4 This score means that the findings on your mammogram are suspicious and that there is an approximately 20 percent to 35 percent chance that a breast cancer is present. To make a diagnosis, the doctors will need to perform a biopsy to get a small tissue sample. More than 90 percent of women with a BI-RADS score of 4 can have a core biopsy performed without the need for general anesthesia or an incision in the breast. At our Breast Center, if a biopsy is warranted they are commonly performed the same day the mammogram is read. Nationally, the rate of open excisional biopsies is much higher than necessary. Our rate is very low; more than 90 percent of biopsies done here are core biopsies". In very simple terms, your lesion, is solid looking, is longer than round, has irregular margins, does not visualize as fatty tissue, and does not appear to have vascular flow. Over all, suspicious, based on the 'things' breast imagers look for on a mammogram. A biopsy will give definate diagnosis thru tissue analysis. Hope this helps, and best wishes. If we can help, please call Sheila @ 443-287-BRST (2887) for an appointment. | ||
Please note: This service is not intended to provide primary medical advice concerning specific medical care or treatment. Ask an Expert is a free service operated by health care professionals at the Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center. Due to the volume of questions and their complexity, there are times when medical oncologists, surgeons, radiation oncologists or oncology nurses are consulted for their input. These individuals volunteer their time for this service and will respond as soon as they are able. Please do not post or send the same question to us in multiple locations or categories.