Clustered Calcifications

The Mammogram & Ultrasound results came in early and since i was hit by diarrhoea since late last nite, I made a trip to the Polyclinic to get the review as well.

The doctor said there's probably cyst or nodules in my breasts. Tsk vague description, not helpful at all but as she was busily writin down my prescription for another examination at a specialised breast clinic, I read the diagnosis written for the mammogram/ultrasound result. Clustered calcifications found on blah blah blah...BI-RAD 3 and BI-RAD 4. Those words were imprinted in my head till i get home and the doctor said that i might have to go through biopsy. See all these new terms i gotta memorise? GOOGLED!

Calcifications or microcalcifications seen on a mammogram are small mineral deposits that show up as white spots on the mammogram film. Calcifications can be benign, but may be a sign of breast cancer.

Distribution of breast calcifications

Breast calcifications are described in terms of type and distribution and categorized according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) of the American College of Radiology (ACR).

Distribution modifiers (grouped or clustered, linear, segmental, regional, diffuse) are used to describe the arrangement of the calcifications. Historically, the terms grouped or clustered were used to describe suspicious calcification. Now, these terms are neutral and may be used to describe benign or malignant processes. Grouped or clustered should be used to describe calcifications that occupy a small volume (<2 mL) of tissue.

BI-RADS to describe breast calcifications

Category 3, or "probably benign finding–short-term interval follow-up suggested," is used when a noted finding has a very high probability of being benign. The finding is not expected to change over the follow-up interval, but the radiologist prefers to establish its stability over time.

Category 4, or "suspicious abnormality–biopsy should be considered," is used when a finding has a definite probability of being malignant.

info extracted from:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002113.htm

http://www.emedicine.com/radio/byname/breast-benign-calcifications.htm

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Astaghfirullah...

BI-RADS cat 4 don't sound too good to me and I heard that biopsy is a real painful experience. 

O Allah, give me strength to overcome this, and i really really hope that with a more thorough check, the calcifications in my breast are benign, benign, benign...and they'll poof or juz stay that way...