Diagnosing Noncancerous (Benign) Breast Conditions

How are benign breast conditions and infections diagnosed?

To diagnose a breast condition, your healthcare provider will take your complete health history. Your provider may also:

• Do a complete physical exam to:

  • Locate any lump and feel its features, such as texture, size, and relationship to the skin and chest muscles

  • Look for changes in the nipples or the skin of the breast

  • Check lymph nodes under the arm and above the collarbones

• Request imaging tests, including:

  • Diagnostic mammography to look for masses and calcifications

  • Breast ultrasound to further evaluate information from the physical exam or mammography

  • MRI of the breast

• Request a lab microscopic exam of nipple discharge if there is nipple discharge other than breastmilk

• Request a ductogram X-ray or MRI ductogram of the nipples if there is nipple discharge other than breastmilk

• Consider a hormonal evaluation if the nipple discharge is milky

• Request a biopsy of tissue removed from the suspicious area

What are the different types of biopsy?

Image-guided biopsies. Those aided by ultrasound or other imaging techniques, including:

• Fine needle aspiration. A very fine or thin needle is guided into the suspicious area. A small sample of the tissue is removed.

• Core needle biopsy. A larger needle is guided into the lump to remove a small core (cylinder) of tissue.

Surgical biopsy. A surgical procedure is used to remove all or part of a lump.