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190424 What types of imaging will my doctor order?

If you have breast pain, you are not alone. Breast pain, also known as mastalgia, Is common and accounts for 45 to 70% of breast related health care visits. The good news is that most causes of breast pain are benign (non cancerous) and usually related to hormonal changes in your body or something as simple as a poor fitting bra.

Mammogram.

Your doctor may order a mammogram, which is an X-ray of your breast. A technologist will take at least. Two X-rays of your breast while your breast is compressed. If you have not had a screening mammogram in over a year, they may take X-rays of your non painful breast, too. A breast radiologist will look at your X-rays while you wait and determine if you need any additional X-rays or a breast ultrasound.

Breast ultrasound.

If you are younger than 40, lactating or pregnant, your doctor may order an ultrasound of your breast instead of a mammogram. During the breast ultrasound, a technologist or breast radiologist will put ultrasound gel on your breast and scan the area of pain with a handheld ultrasound probe. The breast radiologist may decide to perform a mammogram as well to evaluate your area of pain. Either a technologist or breast radiologist will discuss the results of your imaging with you before you leave and report will be sent to your doctor.

What kind of things might the radiologist see?

In 75 to 88% of women who have imaging for breast pain, the mammogram in or ultrasound are completely normal. In around 10% of women, the radiologists will find a benign cause for the pain. The most common benign cause of pain is a breast cyst. Breast cysts are sacks of fluid in the breast and many women have them and never know it. They can become painful with changes in your body’s hormones or when they increase in size. 1 to 2% of women may need further evaluation with the breast biopsy because radiologists sees something on the images and cannot tell exactly what it is. A breast biopsy is an outpatient procedure where a small piece of tissue is removed from your breast to be evaluated under a microscope. Very few women with breast pain have breast cancer and some studies, so your chance of having a breast cancer is the same whether you have breast pain or not.

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[1] At inland imaging, our specialty trained radiologists, nurses, and technologists make sure that you get detailed answers quickly and accurately. Because when it comes to your health, better answers can lead to better outcomes.

Scheduling: (509) 455. 4455.

[2] The Society of Breast Imaging. SBR, September 27th 2019. Doctor Michelle Lee is an assistant professor of radiology at Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis. Doctor Wendi Owen is an assistant professor of radiology at UK Healthcare.