What does a mass on a mammogram mean?

A mass (lump) with a smooth, well-defined border is often benign. Ultrasound is needed to see and describe the inside of a mass. If the mass contains fluid, it is called a cyst. A mass (lump) that has an irregular border or a starburst appearance (spiculated) might be cancerous, and a biopsy is usually recommended.

Are cluster calcifications always cancer?

Microcalcifications are small calcium deposits that look like white specks on a mammogram. Microcalcifications are usually not a result of cancer. But if they appear in certain patterns and are clustered together, they may be a sign of precancerous cells or early breast cancer.

Do fibroadenomas show up on mammograms?

Mammography uses X-rays to produce an image (mammogram) of suspicious areas in your breast tissue. A fibroadenoma might appear on a mammogram as a breast mass with smooth, round edges, distinct from surrounding breast tissue.

What is the difference between a mass and a tumor in the breast?

A mass that’s painless, hard, and has irregular edges is more likely to be cancer, but breast cancers can be tender, soft, or rounded. They can even be painful.

Does fibroadenoma need biopsy?

Fibroadenomas with atypical cells will usually need to be removed surgically and examined. Small lesions that look like fibroadenomas on ultrasound may not require biopsy. These may be followed up with an ultrasound scan instead.

Can a fibroadenoma be cancerous?

The large majority of fibroadenomas will not turn into breast cancer. However, it is possible for complex fibroadeomas to become cancerous. This type of lump is less common and faster growing than simple fibroadenomas and contains changes such as cell overgrowth (hyperplasia) and calcium deposits.

What does a cluster of microcysts look like on a mammogram?

Mammogram shows Mass: Clustered Microcysts and Complicated Cyst Floating particles in a cyst are formally referred to as ‘clustered microcysts’. On the ultrasound these cysts will appear as very small anechocic dots, each smaller than 2-3 mm, with no discrete solid components.

What is a globular cluster in astronomy?

Globular clusters. A globular cluster is a collection of tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of stars, all orbiting around their common center of mass, packed within a region several parsecs in radius.

Is the mass of a supermassive black hole related to globular clusters?

Research indicates a correlation between the mass of a central supermassive black holes (SMBH) and the extent of the globular cluster systems of elliptical and lenticular galaxies. The mass of the SMBH in such a galaxy is often close to the combined mass of the galaxy’s globular clusters.

Can benign breast conditions show up on a mammogram?

As with a physical examination, cancerous and benign masses may sometimes appear similar on a mammogram, but some findings are more common in one than the other. It’s important to note that around 20% of breast cancers do not show up on a screening mammogram. 5  Similarly, benign breast conditions sometimes appear to be cancer.