Moderate chain of small nodules.

[LoriD]

Hello, and thank you for this forum. I am 46 years old and have been taking Premarin for 8 years.  Due to the research lately, my doctor switch me to Estradiol and ordered a mammogram, which showed  "a  moderate amount of gland tissue, which may be a series of small lymph nodes or cysts (in left breast)."  Ultrasound ordered.  That result read,  "Tubular dilated duct with a waist on the dilatation.  This has a bi-lobed configuration.  This duct contains fluid.  The more proximal portion of this duct contains some solid material.  This may just be debris though a possible intraduct nodule such as a papilloma cannot be completely excluded.  There is another short length of duct and much smaller indraductal fluid collection.  I do not have a clear etiology for this.  It is not clear why there are local areas of dilatation in a duct.  Follow-up mammo and ultrasound recommended in six months."  Should I be concerned?  Is a papilloma a concern?  During the ultrasound, the tech did get the doctor and pointed out a cyst looking object and what I could see was two cyst - one dark and another hazy looking and the tech said that one had a "tail".There is a strong family history of cancer (not breast) in my family.   Other than this, I am very healthy and have no symptoms.  Your thoughts would be appreciated.

[LoriD]

Thank you both for your comments.  I will be sure to follow-up on my tests in six months.  I appreciate your comments.  This forum is a great resource!  Keep up the great work here!

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear LoriD, A papillomas is a small benign (non-cancerous) growth, such as a wart.  Nothing needs to be done about it as long as we are sure that this is what it is.  In order to be absolutely sure a biopsy would need to be done to take a sample from this area to look at under the microscope.

[surgeon]

papillomas are common and not of concern. The question is how certain one can be that that's what it is: the only way to be absolutely certain is a biopsy. The other option is careful keeping an idea on it as you mentioned. If the area can't be felt with certainty, it's possible to have a wire guided into it for the surgeon to follow when doing the biopsy.