What does an abnormal mammogram look like?

It is variable: In a normal breast, a mammogram shows normal skin dark grey fat and lighter grey breast tissue. Suspicious findings include clusters of tiny microcalcifications or a density/mass with irregular or spiculated margins. To the untrained eye, these can look just like breast tissue. Comparing to older mammograms increases the likelihood of being able to spot a new or enlarging abnormality.

Depends: It can show a mass, dense breast tissue that looks different from the other side, and calcifications that may or may not be suspicious for cancer. It is a great screening tool but other studies, like ultrasound, are often needed to clarify findings.

It varies: There are a variety of ways for a mammo to look abnormal: microcalifications, a mass, a distortion of the normal architecture, an asymmetry, skin thickening, abnormal lymph nodes, dilated ducts, global or regional stromal changes.