Diagnosing Benign Breast Conditions

How are benign breast conditions and infections diagnosed?

In addition to obtaining a complete medical history, your physician, in diagnosing a breast condition, may proceed with the following:

• Perform a complete physical examination to:

  • locate any lump and feel its characteristics (i.e., texture, size, and relationship to the skin and chest muscles).

  • look for changes in the nipples or the skin of the breast.

  • check lymph nodes under the arm and above the collarbones.

• Request imaging tests, including:

  • diagnostic mammography to look for masses and calcifications.

  • breast ultrasound to further evaluate information from the physical examination or mammography.

• If there is discharge, other than breast milk, from the nipples, request a laboratory microscopic examination of the discharge.

• If there is discharge, other than breast milk, from the nipples, request a ductogram x-ray of the nipples.

• Request a biopsy of tissue removed from the suspicious area.

What are the different types of biopsy?

• image-guided biopsies - those aided by ultrasound or other imaging technique, including:

  • fine needle aspiration - a very fine needle is guided into the suspicious area and a small sample of the tissue is removed.

  • core needle biopsy - a larger needle is guided into the lump to remove a small cylinder of tissue.

• surgical biopsy - a surgical procedure is used to remove all or part of a lump.