How are breast lumps evaluated?
Most breast lumps are benign (not cancer). Proving that a lump is not cancer often involves imaging tests. One or more of the following imaging tests may be performed:
- mammogram (www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=mammo): Mammography uses low dose x-rays to examine the breasts. This type of imaging involves exposing the breasts to a small amount of ionizing radiation to obtain pictures of the inside of the breasts. See the Safety page (www.radiologyinfo.org/en/safety/) for more information about x-rays.
- breast ultrasound (www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=breastus): Breast ultrasound uses sound waves to create pictures of the inside of the breasts. Breast ultrasound can capture images of areas of the breast that may be difficult to see with mammography. It can also help to determine whether a breast lump is solid or fluid.
- breast MRI (www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=breastmr): During breast MRI, a powerful magnetic field, radio frequency pulses and a computer are used to produce detailed pictures of the inside of the breasts. MRI is helpful in evaluating breast lumps that are not visible with mammography or ultrasound, particularly in women with dense breast tissue.
If a lump is proven to be benign by its appearance on these exams, no further steps may need to be taken. Your doctor may want to monitor the area at future visits to check if the breast lump has changed, grown or gone away.
If these tests do not clearly show that the lump is benign, a biopsy may be necessary. One of the following image-guided procedures may be performed:
- ultrasound-guided biopsy (www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=breastbius): During this type of biopsy, using ultrasound imaging to find the lump, an interventional radiologist will administer local anesthesia, and then advance a thin sampling needle into the lump to remove some tissue for evaluation under a microscope. The biopsy procedure is usually quick, but it may take a few days before the final tissue analysis (pathology report) is ready.
- stereotactic (x-ray guided) biopsy (www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=breastbixr): During this type of biopsy, using a digital mammography x-ray machine to image the area of concern, an interventional radiologist will administer local anesthesia and then position a sampling needle at this site to remove thin tissue samples for further evaluation.
- MRI-guided biopsy (www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=breastbimr): During this type of biopsy, using an MRI machine to localize the area of concern, the interventional radiologist will administer local anesthesia and then position a sampling needle at this site to remove thin tissue samples for further evaluation.
Locate an ACR-accredited provider: To locate a medical imaging or radiation oncology provider in your community, you can search the ACR-accredited facilities database.
This website does not provide costs for exams. The costs for specific medical imaging tests and treatments vary widely across geographic regions. Many—but not all—imaging procedures are covered by insurance. Discuss the fees associated with your medical imaging procedure with your doctor and/or the medical facility staff to get a better understanding of the portions covered by insurance and the possible charges that you will incur.
Web page review process: This Web page is reviewed regularly by a physician with expertise in the medical area presented and is further reviewed by committees from the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), comprising physicians with expertise in several radiologic areas.
Outside links: For the convenience of our users, RadiologyInfo.org provides links to relevant websites. RadiologyInfo.org, ACR and RSNA are not responsible for the content contained on the web pages found at these links.
Images: Images are shown for illustrative purposes. Do not attempt to draw conclusions or make diagnoses by comparing these images to other medical images, particularly your own. Only qualified physicians should interpret images; the radiologist is the physician expert trained in medical imaging.
This page was reviewed on July 02, 2014