Lesions vs tumors: Anyone have experience with breast lesions?

Posted by ellya @ellya, May 11 12:51pm

I just completed treatment for invasive lobular carcinoma a month ago and sent my sister for a mammogram I’m 66 she is 68. Her ultrasound showed two “lesions” (small) with “echogenicity”. Anyone have experience with breast lesions? I have never heard of this and wonder if she’ll be going down the same path as I just did.

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windyshores | @windyshores | May 11 2:27pm

Dr. Google on "lesion" vs "tumor"
A lesion refers to any abnormal change or damage in the body's tissues, which can be caused by various factors such as injury, infection, or disease. Lesions can be benign or malignant, and they can occur in different parts of the body. On the other hand, a tumor specifically refers to an abnormal mass or growth of cells that form a lump.

Dr. Google on echogenicity:

An echogenic lesion is any sort of abnormality in human tissue that is able to reflect or generate sound waves1. Echogenicity describes how readily sound waves bounce off tissues during an ultrasound examination2. A lesion is any sort of oddity or abnormal tissue as a result of disease1. A cyst that has bled, an endometrioma or other solid ovarian lesion can be echogenic3. Focal lesions with anechoic pattern or echogenic foci due to gas or calcification are suggestive signs of benign process.

Finally, to a lay person like me, it looks like neither "lesion" nor "echogenicity" are signs of trouble in themselves and with further investigation, again according to Dr. Google, these would be trouble signs, but ask a doctor!

When evaluating a sonographically echogenic lesion, there are certain features that raise concern and may warrant further investigation. Here are the worrisome features to look out for:

Irregular Shape: Lesions with an irregular shape, especially if they deviate from a typical round or oval appearance, can be suspicious.
Non-Circumscribed Margin: A poorly defined or irregular margin around the lesion can indicate malignancy.
Nonparallel Orientation: If the lesion is not oriented parallel to the skin surface, it could be a sign of an abnormality.
Remember that these features should be considered in conjunction with clinical history, mammographic appearance, and other relevant information. If any of these worrisome features are present, further evaluation or biopsy may be necessary12. Always consult with a healthcare professional for accurate assessment and management.

ellya | @ellya | May 11 5:16pm

Thanks! Hard to explain but my sister hasn’t had much medical experience and doesn’t want a biopsy until she’s sure she absolutely needs one - meaning months of her own research. I was just trying to get an idea of how dangerous that is. I have the US report but will try to get the images too.