Imaging Features of Inflammatory Breast Disorders: A Pictorial Essay

Abstract

Inflammatory breast disorders include a wide array of underlying causes, ranging from common benign infection, non-infectious inflammation and inflammation resulting from underlying breast malignancy. Because it is at times difficult to distinguish mastitis and breast cancer based on clinical features, awareness of detailed imaging features may be helpful for better management of inflammatory breast disorders. Therefore, this pictorial essay intends to demonstrate radiologic findings of a variety of inflammatory breast disorders, using selected cases with mammography, ultrasound and magnetic resonance images.

A very rare case of mycobacterium gordonae infection of the breast

“…of the patients and it may see a fistula or a sinus tract, like in our reported case. 6 Mammography, tomosynthesis, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) do not add useful information to diagnostic discernment.…”

Sonographic features of inflammatory conditions of the breast

“…Breast hyperaemia or increased vascularisation of the breast tissues is another important sign of inflammation and can be demonstrated on Doppler ultrasound by increased arterial and venous structures . Ultrasound is very useful for also assessing the major lactiferous ducts deep to the nipple for signs of ectasia, thickening of the wall, inspissated contents or abscess formation.…”

“…This is often staphylococcus aureus or streptococcus sp . ; however, anaerobic bacteria such as Bacteriodes are not infrequently implicated . In the early phases, this presents as a cellulitis of the breast, which in some may progress to abscess formation.…”

“…In inflammatory breast carcinoma, ultrasound will demonstrate dermal thickening and oedema, and often small anechoic areas may be seen within the dermis representing dilated dermal lymphatics . Ultrasound may also demonstrate an increase in the echogenicity of the breast parenchyma related to oedema of the tissues and thickened Coopers ligaments and will often also reveal multiple suspicious hypoechoic tumour masses with posterior acoustic shadowing and irregular borders (Figures and ).…”

“…Ultrasound may also demonstrate an increase in the echogenicity of the breast parenchyma related to oedema of the tissues and thickened Coopers ligaments and will often also reveal multiple suspicious hypoechoic tumour masses with posterior acoustic shadowing and irregular borders (Figures and ). There may also be microcalcifications identified with any mass lesion . Doppler will demonstrate increased vascularity throughout the tissues and oedema of the prepectoral plane may be identified.…”