Transillumination
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What do Abnormal Results Mean?
Areas filled with air or fluid that is not native to that location have increased light transmission and transilluminate when they should not. For example, in a darkened room, a newborn infant's head can be seen to light up brightly when transilluminated if there is excess fluid present (suggesting hydrocephalus).
Results specific to the breasts include:
- If there is a lesion and bleeding has occurred, those internal areas will be dark to black, because blood does not transilluminate.
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Benign tumors tend to appear red.
- Malignant tumors are brown to black.
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