Understanding BI-RADS 4 Radiology Reports: What You Need to Know

Question
QUESTION: I went for a mammo amd US.  Here is what radiology report says. I am hoping someone can clarfiy it for me.
Left Breast:Susupicious hypoechoic mass at 12:00 position with mammogram and US features of malignancy.Faintly visible, poorly defined region of decreased echogenicity with irregular margins measuring 1.1 x 1.3 x 1.8 cm. palpable. Elsewhere in left breast are complex cysts at th 2-3 o'clock measuring 7mm and an 8 x 4 mm hypoechoic nodule at 8 o'clock position.
Right breast multiple cysts. A bilobed debris filled duct in noted deep to the areola.
I am scheduled for US guided core biopsy on the left next Monday.


ANSWER: The important thing here is that in your left breast you have a lesion suspected of being a cancer right above your nipple. It is 1.1 x 1.3 x 1.8 cm in size (1 inch = 2.54 cm). Apart from that there is a number of cysts in both breasts and some other things that are along with the cysts rather insignificant. It is good that an ultrasound guided needle biopsy will be done so that we will KNOW what this is! Please do keep me posted!


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QUESTION: First of all thank you for the quick response...the waiting  for tests is difficult so I appreciate your promptness.the other information on the report is : nbreasts are moderately dense. In the superior, central aspect of the left breast there is a subtle area of architectural distortion with faintly visible punctate calcifications. The abnormal tissue is at the 12 o'clock poition. Several benign calcifications are noted elsewhere in the left breast. As mentioned previously, I have biopsy scheduled for Monday and surgeon appointment on the 28th. Also is the hypoechoic nodule at 8:00 significant?

Answer
The rest of your radiology report does not change anything except explaining why that area is suspected of being a cancer. It seems that your radiologist does not think that that lesion at 8.00. o'clock is significant. But you can ask that a needle biopsy is done there too so that you will KNOW what it is! Please do keep me posted!