What does asymmetric mean in a mammogram?
What does asymmetry mean in my mammogram report? Breast asymmetry refers to the appearance of a part of the breast in comparison to the remainder of that breast and to the other breast. A radiologist will examine a mammogram to look at the difference in position, volume and form of the breasts.
Does breast asymmetry indicate cancer?
It has been shown in our previous work that breast asymmetry is related to several of the known risk factors for breast cancer, and that patients with diagnosed breast cancer have more breast volume asymmetry, as measured from mammograms, than age-matched healthy women.
How do you treat asymmetrical breasts?
Breast Asymmetry Treatments
- Breast augmentation to enlarge the smaller breast.
- Breast reduction to reduce the size of the larger breast or change breast shape.
- Breast lift surgery (or mastopexy) to alter breast positioning.
Is an asymmetry a mass?
An asymmetry is defined as “a unilateral deposit of fibroglandular tissue not conforming to the definition of a radiodense mass.” This basically means an area of the breast that looks different compared with the other breast.
Is asymmetry on mammogram a mass?
Asymmetric breast tissue is usually benign and secondary to variations in normal breast tissue, postoperative change, or hormone replacement therapy. However, an asymmetric area may indicate a developing mass or an underlying cancer.
Is developing asymmetry bad?
Developing asymmetry is an important and challenging mammographic finding, associated with a moderate risk of malignancy. Biopsy is nearly always indicated if the finding persists following diagnostic evaluation.
What does asymmetrical breast tissue mean?
The term asymmetric breast tissue refers to a greater volume or density of breast tissue in one breast than in the corresponding area in the contralateral breast (,,,Fig 1).