For most women, the results of a mammogram will be good news. The test will find no signs of breast cancer. For some women, though, the test may show something abnormal. These women will need tests to see whether or not they have breast cancer.
If you need follow-up tests, take heart that most abnormalities found by a mammogram are not breast cancer, but something less serious like a benign breast condition. (Learn more about benign breast conditions.) Sometimes these tests show that the tissue is normal.
Follow-up most often begins with the least invasive tests (such as a diagnostic mammogram or ultrasound) and progresses, if needed, to the more invasive tests (such as a needle or surgical biopsy). A radiologist will decide how suspicious the abnormal finding on the mammogram is by looking at the diagnostic mammogram or ultrasound images. If the abnormality does not suggest cancer (for instance, a cyst), then no treatment may be needed. In some cases, you may have a repeat mammogram and/or your health care provider may request other tests. If the finding is suspicious or likely to be breast cancer, the next step is a biopsy to remove some of the abnormal tissue test for cancer. For more on biopsies, see the Diagnosis section. If the findings are benign, you return to your regular schedule of screening with clinical breast exam and mammograms.
Updated 09/02/09
