Body Part - Breast
ESTROGEN RECEPTOR (ER)
A receptor that can be associated with breast cancer. If this receptor is present, there is a chance that hormone therapy can be used as part of the treatment for breast cancer.
EXCISIONAL BIOPSY
Surgical procedure to cut out an abnormal area or lesion in the breast. This is performed by a breast surgeon.
EXTRACAPSULAR RUPTURE
This is a type of breast implant rupture where the silicone leaks out of the implant bag AND out of the implant capsule. This may be seen on mammogram, ultrasound, or MRI. Please see “capsule” and “intracapsular rupture” for more information.
EXTREMELY DENSE
This phrase is used in the standard sentence, “The breasts are extremely dense, which lowers the sensitivity of mammography.” It means that the breast is composed of more than 75% glandular tissue and less than 25% fat. Cancer looks like a white spot on a mammogram. Normal glandular tissue is also white on a mammogram. When there is more glandular tissue in the breast, cancer is harder to see/detect.
As an analogy, imagine trying to spot a white bear when it is snowing outside (in the North Pole). If it is snowing lightly, the white bear should be easy to detect. If there is a raging snow storm (blizzard), the white bear will be difficult to detect.
Back to the mammogram…Since there is more than 75% glandular tissue, breast cancer may be more difficult to detect in a breast that is “extremely dense”.
FAT NECROSIS
“Dying” fat tissue in the breast, usually caused by trauma. For example, fat necrosis can occur when a woman’s breast is crushed against the steering wheel in a car accident. In the early stages, fat necrosis can look like cancer but it is not a cancer. In the later stages, fat necrosis can lead to the formation of oil cysts and has a characteristic benign appearance on mammogram. This is an expected process after surgery or trauma to the breast.
FATTY HILUM
The hilum is the area of a lymph node where the blood vessels enter and leave the lymph node (blood vessel connection point). Normal lymph nodes contain fat in the hilum. Lymph nodes that contain cancer enlarge and often the fat in the hilum disappears.
FIBROADENOMA
The most common non-cancerous solid mass in the breast. These are common in pre-menopausal women.
FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES (DISEASE)
In this condition, the breasts feel “lumpy bumpy”. This is not cancer. This can be associated with breast pain and tenderness.
FINE NEEDLE ASPIRATION
A sampling technique that uses a very thin needle to sample a breast mass.. It is very safe. However, it does not provide as much information as a core needle biopsy.
FOCAL ASYMMETRY
A white spot seen from 2 different angles on a mammogram. may still be a “fake out”. The radiologist will likely request the patient to come back for additional mammograms or ultrasound. Please see “asymmetry” for more information.
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