PURPOSE: We wanted to analyze the mammographic and clinical findings of the non-mass image-forming low echoic areas seen on breast ultrasonography (US) and investigate their pathologic results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-nine patients with 72 non-mass image-forming low echoic areas seen on breast US and who had undergone mammography and biopsy were included in this study. The mammographic findings were divided into 2 groups: 1) the negative or probably benign group and 2) the suspicious for malignancy group. The US findings were divided into 3 groups: focal, segmental and diffuse distributions. The clinical findings were divided into 2 groups: the non-palpable and palpable groups. We investigated the pathologic results according to each group. RESULTS: Of the 72 lesions, 49 (68.1%) were benign and 23 (31.9%) were malignant. On the mammography, 42 (93.3%) of the 45 negative or probably benign findings and 7 (25.9%) of 27 suspicious for malignancy findings were pathologically benign (p < 0.001). On the US, 38 (76%) of the 50 focal distributions and 11 (52.4%) of 21 segmental distributions were benign (p = 0.090). Thirty (73.2%) of the 41 nonpalpable lesions and 19 (61.3%) of the 31 palpable lesions were benign (p = 0.609). CONCLUSIONS: A non-mass image-forming low echoic area seen on breast US was malignant at a higher rate when it was found in conjunction with suspicious mammographic finding. There was no significant correlation between the distribution of the non-mass image-forming low echoic areas on US or their palpability and the pathologic results.
Biopsy ; Breast ; Humans ; Mammography ; Ultrasonography, Mammary

We encountered a patient with a breast mass which had metastasized from gastric carcinoma representing as aninflammatory carcinoma on ultrasonography. We described the radiologic and clinical features, and review theliterature. The patient had advanced gastric carcinoma and breast ultrasonography demonstrated the presence ofvery ill-defined, infiltrating, and mixed echoic lesions indistinguishable from findings of primary inflammatorybreast carcinoma. Metastatic gastric adenocarcinoma was confirmed pathologically.
Adenocarcinoma ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Humans ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Mammary

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of the characteristic sonographic findings of the pathologically confirmed hyperechoic masses on breast ultrasonography, and clinical and sonographic findings in differentiating the malignant from benign hyperechoic masses. METHODS: One hundred and ninety hyperechoic masses on breast ultrasonogram of which were pathologically confirmed were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical features were reviewed according to patient's age, size of mass, and palpability. The sonographic features were reviewed according to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System 4th lexicon: margin, orientation, shaped, and posterior acoustic features. The sonographic features of the benign and malignant masses were statistically analyzed using the chi-square test, the Fisher's exact test, and t-test. RESULTS: The benign masses were 42 cases (79.2%) and the malignant masses were 11 cases (20.8%). Patient age, size of mass, palpability were not significant difference between malignant and benign masses (P=0.684, P=0.377, P=0.746). Mixed hyperechoic, noncircumscribed margin, irregular shape, nonparallel orientation were significantly different for malignant and benign masses (P<0.001, P=0.01, P=0.003, P=0.025). But posterior acoustic features were not statistically different for malignant and benign masses. CONCLUSION: Malignant masses with hyperechogenicity were more likely than benign masses to have mixed hyperechoic, noncircumscribed margin, irregular shape, nonparallel orientation. Therefore, pathologically confirm should be performed hyperechoic masses with suspicious findings.
Acoustics ; Breast* ; Humans ; Information Systems ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography* ; Ultrasonography, Mammary

Breast calcification is a very common and representative radiological finding visualized on a wide spectrum of breast diseases. Its detection and morphologic characterization are very important for the diagnosis and differentiation of breast lesions, for which mammography is the imaging modality of choice. Although ultrasonography is a very feasible tool in problem-solving diagnosis and interventional procedures of breast masses, it suffers limitations in the detection and characterization of microcalcifications. Recently, identification of microcalcifications on ultrasonography has become more frequent because of the advent of high-frequency transducer and improvements in spatial resolution. The importance of sonographic detection of breast calcifications lies in the fact that sonographically guided biopsy can be more easily and precisely performed for the suspicious lesions with microcalcifications (BI-RADS category 4 or 5). Additionally, the sonographic features correlating with mammographic findings are valuable for differentiate between malignant and benign lesions. This article describes the equipment and techniques to improve the detection rate of microcalcifications, the imaging features of various breast diseases with calcifications, and the suitable sonographically guided intervention.
Biopsy ; Breast Diseases ; Breast* ; Diagnosis ; Mammography ; Transducers ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Mammary*

In the last 30 years, technical improvements have directly contributed to expanding sonographic breast imaging applications into the most important adjunctive imaging modality for breast evaluation. Most of these advances have related to improvements in sonographic gray-scale image resolution and contrast, but some applications such as color Doppler imaging, elastography, optical imaging, or three-dimensional ultrasounds have resulted in sonographic information that is uniquely different from grayscale imaging. The current spectrum of new breast sonographic techniques not only offers information uniquely different from gray-scale imaging but also involves hardware advances that affect the method of image production. In this article, we discuss the current trends in breast ultrasonography focusing on the advances to further improve accuracy for breast lesion diagnosis.
Breast ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Optical Imaging ; Ultrasonography, Mammary

Invasive micropapillary carcinoma is a rare, clinically aggressive variant of invasive ductal carcinoma. Imaging findings of invasive micropapillary carcinoma are not specific, and associated microcalcifications are frequent. Our case presented with unique radiological features: a mass with coarse macrocalcifications on mammography and breast computed tomography and a hyperechoic mass on breast ultrasound. Macrocalcifications and hyperechogenicity are not usual malignant characteristics. We report here on our experience with a 55-year-old woman who had invasive micropapillary carcinoma in the breast with unique radiological and pathological findings.
Breast ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Female ; Humans ; Mammography ; Middle Aged ; Ultrasonography, Mammary

Mondor's disease is a rare condition involving the breast and anterior chest wall and it is characterized by superficial thrombophlebitis. The usual clinical manifestation of the disease is the acute development of a painful and palpable cord or mass on the breast, and it shows a benign process, but it can be accompanied with malignant disease. On ultrasonography, the lesion is seen as a long tubular anechoic structure with a beaded appearance, and this should be differentiated from a dilated duct or sparganosis. We report here on our experience with a 35-year-old woman who had Mondor's disease with the typical clinical presentation and imaging findings.
Adult ; Breast ; Female ; Humans ; Sparganosis ; Thoracic Wall ; Thrombophlebitis ; Ultrasonography, Mammary

OBJECTICE: To compare the use of conventional, real-time compound, and pulse-inversion harmonic imaging in the evaluation of breast nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two breast nodules were included in this study, conducted between May and December 2000, in which conventional, real-time compound, and pulse-inversion harmonic images were obtained in the same plane. Three radiologists, each blinded to the interpretations of the other two, evaluated the findings, characterizing the lesions and ranking the three techniques from grade 1, the worst, to grade 3, the best. Lesion conspicuity was assessed, and lesions were also characterized in terms of their margin, clarity of internal echotexture, and clarity of posterior echo pattern. The three techniques were compared using Friedman's test, and interobserver agreement in image interpretation was assessed by means of the intraclass correlation coefficient. RESULTS: With regard to lesion conspicuity, margin, and internal echotexture of the nodules, real-time compound imaging was the best technique (p < 0.05); in terms of posterior echo pattern, the best was pulse-inversion harmonic imaging (p < 0.05). Real-time compound and pulse inversion harmonic imaging were better than conventional sonography in all evaluative aspects. Interobserver agreement was greater than moderate. CONCLUSION: Real-time compound and pulse-inversion harmonic imaging procedures are superior to conventional sonography in terms of both lesion conspicuity and the further characterization of breast nodules. Real-time compound imaging is the best technique for evaluation of the margin and internal echotexture of nodules, while pulse-inversion harmonic imaging is very effective for the evaluation of the posterior echo patterns.
Breast Neoplasms/*ultrasonography ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Fibrocystic Disease of Breast/*ultrasonography ; Human ; Middle Age ; Ultrasonography, Mammary/*methods

An imaging-guided core needle biopsy has been proven to be reliable and accurate for the diagnosis of both benign and malignant diseases of the breast, and has replaced surgical biopsy. However, the possibility of a false-negative biopsy still remains. Imaging-pathology correlation is of critical importance in imaging-guided breast biopsies to detect such a possible sampling error and avoid a delay in diagnosis. We will review five possible categories and corresponding management after performing an imaging-pathology correlation in a sonography-guided core needle biopsy of a breast lesion, as well as illustrate the selected images for each category in conjunction with the pathologic finding. Radiologists should be familiar with the imaging features of various breast pathologies and be able to appropriately correlate imaging findings with pathologic results after a core needle biopsy.
*Biopsy, Needle ; Breast Neoplasms/*pathology/ultrasonography ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Risk Assessment ; *Ultrasonography, Interventional ; *Ultrasonography, Mammary

Breast edema is defined as a mammographic pattern of skin thickening, increased parenchymal density, and interstitial marking. It can be caused by benign or malignant diseases, as a result of a tumor in the dermal lymphatics of the breast, lymphatic congestion caused by breast, lymphatic drainage obstruction, or by congestive heart failure. Here we describe several conditions, that cause unilateral breast edema with the aim of familiarizing radiologists with these disease entities.
Breast Diseases/*etiology/*radiography/ultrasonography ; Edema/*etiology/*radiography/ultrasonography ; Female ; Humans ; *Mammography ; Ultrasonography, Mammary