Cluster of Microcalcifications

[Lisa71971]

Hi  

I am 40 years old and had a mammogram on the 1st of this month here is what the report says

BREAST COMPOSITION: Heterogeneously dense, which may limit the sensitivity of mammography

FINDINGS: There is a cluster of microcalcifications seen in the posterior third of the tight breast. Projecting in the lateral quadrants not identified on the MLO view. Otherwise there are no suspicious mass lesions or areas of archetectural distortion.

IMPRESSION: Cluster of microcalcifications seen in the right breast only identified on the CC projection and may represent superimposed calcifications from different parts of the breast. Would recommend further evaluation with stepped obliques off the CC projection as well as spot magnification view of the right breast in CC projection and true 90 degree view of the right breast to further evaluate.

Could this mean there is a cyst? I have felt no lumps, but am experiencing pain in that breast. Where is "posterior third" on my breast? Is it upper or lower? I had mastitis in that breast 4 years ago. Could this be causing the cluster of microcalcifications now?

I am asking here because I did not talk to my doctor about this, I only talked to his nurse and she initially did not tell me about the cluster of microcalcifications, she just told me that by breasts are dense and they need more views. Why would she not tell me about the cluster of microcalcifications??

Could taking calcium supplements cause these microcalcifications? I just started taking them before I had my mammogram...

Thank you for your help.

[Indranil Ghosh, MD]

Dear Lisa71971,

Thanks for writing to us.

A cluster of micro-calcification may be related to cancer but more often it is not. However, it definitely needs further evaluation including spot magnification and ultrasound. If it still remains suspicious, then we would need to localize it by ultrasound and take a biopsy. I feel it is unlikely to be a cyst.

The posterior part means the deeper regions, towards the chest wall, which is difficult to feel.

The nurse would have found it difficult to comment on something outside the scope of her work.

Taking calcium supplements does not cause breast micro-calcifications.

Now to answer the last part of your query, it is possible that the blood came from the crusts. But we have to keep a distant possibility of it coming from inside the ducts. Hence it is important to do the further tests as advised. You can always take a second opinion from a surgeon specializing in breast cancer.

Hope that this information helps and hope that you will get better soon.

Thank you for using MedHelp's "Ask an Expert" Service, where we feature some of world's renowned medical experts in their fields. Millions have benefitted from our service to get personalized advice for them and for their loved ones.

Best Regards,
Dr. Indranil Ghosh

[Lisa71971]

Yeah thiis whole process is super scary. I just want my breast removed!! Seriously!! I hate the constant worry. I will be praying for you too! Than you for your reply!

[amandamelissa]

I too had a mammo on March 1st and needed additional tests.(Im 2 months shy of 40 so we are close in age.  I've went to Mayo and they wanted to do another mammo which they did on March 12th and then the radiologist wanted a ultrasound which they did that same afternoon....now they say I need a MRI .  Radiologist said I have calcifications (2 spots of them) in left breast and the 3cmm palpable lump in my right breast has a line of 'debris' like material going through it that they said they needed 2 futher investigate so I am going crazy waiting till the 30th for these other tests.
My mom had it last year and hers was early stages and she had the calcifications and when they went in for her surgery she indeed had bad cells in both breast not just the "problem" one...and NONE of hers showed up on the MRI which is pretty terrifying.  
I definitly would get a 2nd & possibly 3rd opionion.  Praying you get the "all clear" report soon.

Amanda

[Lisa71971]

Keep in mind this is a CLUSTER of micricalcificiations. Can a CLUSTER that seems benign turn into cancer later? People talk about microcalcificiations that don't turn into cancer but never say if A SEEMINGLY BENIGN CLUSTER  can turn into cancer.

Also can I just have this cluster removed even if they suspect it is benign? Will that cause it to become cancer?. I have read where people have cancer and have it removed and then its spreads rapidly...

THANK YOU SO MUCH and I am sorry for all the questions I have a 20 year old daughter and a 4 year old daughter that need me so I just wanna make sure that I can be here for them as long as I can!

[Lisa71971]

Okay I actually went back today to do the other views and they said that the cluster looked benign. WILL this cluster eventually turn in to cancer or can it just stay the same way it is for a long time??

Thank you.

[Lisa71971]

It is so tiny you can barely see it..unless you look at it hard....

[Lisa71971]

Oh also, when I wake up in the morning I have tiny what looks like blood (but not really bright red) on the upper part of my bra.I mean it is really small and not drops more like if someone were to wipe a drop... I do not see anything on my breast and I always have like crust on my nipples but not bad....I have always had this (the crust) and the crust is on the other nipple too (the other breast looked fine in the ultrasound) I do not have any blood on my bra or coming out of my breasts durning the day and even when I squeeze that breast a little nothing comes out. So i am not sure if it from the crust that is always on my nipple (Its in between the gaps on my nipple 0 or what. If it were ever there before I could have missed it because I never look at my bra like I do now....

[Lisa71971]

I was reading on here that a woman was told that her cluster was benign and she got a second opinion and it ended up being cancer. How can i get a second opinion?