Solid mass return 2yrs after negative FNA biopsy

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Penthesilea - 27 Nov 2004 19:43 GMT

Two years ago I had a small, discreet, solid mass appear under the outside
edge of my right nipple. Mammogram=neg, ultrasound showed it was solid and
the surgeon did a fine needle biopsy on it. It took two tries and each time
he went back and forth about a dozen times in order to get a sample. The
results were negative and after the swelling went down, the lump was less
noticeable since it got shredded by biopsy technique.

The same location gradually thickened and in the last couple months a
noticed a significant lump developing in the same spot. There's nothing
discreet about it this time. It is elongated. I had my sister check it and
she described it as tubular. Regardless, it is exponentially larger than
the original lump.

Should I presume that this is the same benign condition or should I get this
checked again soon? I really don't want to go down that emotional
roller-coaster again. Then again, I'm concerned the FNA biopsy might have
missed something that is now bigger and meaner.

Anyone have any experience with FNA biopsy reliability? (or lack thereof?)

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Tim Jackson - 28 Nov 2004 10:26 GMT

> Two years ago I had a small, discreet, solid mass appear under the outside
> edge of my right nipple. Mammogram=neg, ultrasound showed it was solid and
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> Anyone have any experience with FNA biopsy reliability? (or lack thereof?)

I'd have it checked again. Firstly because FNA isn't all that reliable,
it's relatively easy to get a false negative, and secondly because
things may have changed since that biopsy. Some of it is probably scar
tissue on the biopsy site, but it does sound like it is continuing to
grow. It might show on a mammogram now.

Tim Jackson

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Anthony - 28 Nov 2004 12:39 GMT

> Anyone have any experience with FNA biopsy reliability? (or lack thereof?)

Two years ago my wife detected a lump and the doctor we first saw did a FNA
and said "no cancer". Fortunately we took a second opinion (which we had
arranged before getting the first result; I'm a big believer in second
opinions) and the second doctor ordered a core biopsy which showed invasive
ductal cancer. Whether the incorrect diagnosis was attributable to the
inadequacy of the FNA or of the doctor I am unable to say, but I'd
definitely go for a second opinion if I were you.

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Penthesilea - 28 Nov 2004 15:51 GMT

Thanks for confirming that I'm not being paranoid. Hopefully, it's just a
growth of over ambitious scar tissue. Originally, I was going to watch it
for another month and call the doc after X-mas. However, after my sister
confirmed that it is much more prominent than it originally was, then I
started leaning towards ASAP. Your replies helped me complete the
decision-making process and I will call tomorrow morning and make an
appointment.

I have to say that I was less then impressed when they did the FNA. First
of all, it was supposed to be a surgical consult and they did a biopsy right
there. Then he went back and forth over and over again near the sight of
the lump. They were using an ultrasound to guide them. He walked away and
said he didn't have a good sample so he repeated the process. Three days
later I was told it was negative.

By the way, I'm 41, I know the lump is not a cyst. The lump is not round,
it is elongated. It doesn't have clean borders. It begins directly under
the nipple and then moves about 3cm tangentally towards the outside. I'm a
bit worried about this one...

Thanks you all for the input,

~Britt

> Two years ago I had a small, discreet, solid mass appear under the outside
> edge of my right nipple. Mammogram=neg, ultrasound showed it was solid
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> Anyone have any experience with FNA biopsy reliability? (or lack thereof?)

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Guess Who - 28 Nov 2004 21:20 GMT

> By the way, I'm 41, I know the lump is not a cyst. The lump is not round,
> it is elongated. It doesn't have clean borders. It begins directly under
> the nipple and then moves about 3cm tangentally towards the outside. I'm
> a bit worried about this one...

Did they ever tell what type of lump is was ( ie:fibroadenoma ?) since they
can also grow back. Best to have it removed this time and not biopsied.
Hopefully it isn't cancer but to be on the safe side have it checked.

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