Fibrocystic Breasts

Diagnosis

Your Mayo Clinic doctor begins a diagnosis of your condition with a personal interview and physical examination. Your doctor will ask about how long you have had pain, where it is and how much it hurts. You'll be asked about any medicines you take. Your doctor may ask you to keep a diary to track the days of the month when the pain is most bothersome.

Depending on your age and symptoms, your doctor may recommend a breast ultrasound to assess the area of tenderness or a diagnostic mammogram.

• Biopsy. If a specific area on a mammogram or ultrasound is suspicious in the area that is tender, your doctor may recommend removing a bit of breast tissue (biopsy) to be examined under a microscope. For example, a biopsy may be used to distinguish fluid-filled cysts from fibroadenoma or cancer.
• Mammogram. This diagnostic test is designed to find any abnormalities in your breast tissue. It involves making X-ray images of your breasts, usually two of each breast.
• Ultrasound. In this test, a technician places a wand-like device (transducer) on your breast and examines the image on a screen. Ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create images that can show whether a lump is a fluid-filled cyst or solid tumor.

Read more about breast biopsies, mammograms and ultrasound at MayoClinic.com.