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Breast lump or breast changes: Early evaluation is essential
How breast tissue normally feels
When to consult your doctor
What to expect during a clinical breast exam
Procedures to evaluate a breast lump
Content
How breast tissue feels
When to contact a healthcare professional
What to expect during a breast exam by a healthcare professional
Procedures to study a breast lump
Imaging tests
Breast biopsy
Follow-up after breast lump evaluation
When to consult your doctor
What to expect during a clinical breast exam
Procedures to evaluate a breast lump
Content
How breast tissue feels
When to contact a healthcare professional
What to expect during a breast exam by a healthcare professional
Procedures to study a breast lump
Imaging tests
Breast biopsy
Follow-up after breast lump evaluation
Imaging tests
Learning more about a breast lump may involve:
- Diagnostic mammogram. This specialized breast X-ray shows breast changes. It takes X-ray pictures from several angles.
- Breast ultrasound. Sound waves show pictures of the inside of the breast on a screen. Ultrasound imaging can show whether a breast lump is solid or filled with fluid.
- Breast MRI. An MRI uses a magnet and radio waves to make pictures of the inside of a breast. A breast MRI may help when the diagnosis isn't clear. Before a breast MRI, you might have a dye put into a vein in an arm. The dye helps tissues and blood vessels show up better on the MRI pictures.
