Ultrasonic appearance of mammary carcinoma with a dedicated whole-breast scanner.

Abstract

Forty-four pathologically proved mammary carcinomas were studied by clinical examination, xeroradiography, and ultrasonography with a dedicated whole-breast scanner. Abnormalities reflecting carcinoma were shown by echography in 90% of cases and xeromammography in 97%. Ultrasonic manifestations of malignancy were separated into four categories: (a) a solid, hypoechoic mass; (b) a hyperechoic focus; (c) an irregular, echogenic zone of parenchymal disruption; and (d) an atypical cystic mass. Dedicated ultrasound instruments enhance interpretation and improve differential diagnostic capability. Sonography demonstrates abnormalities better and permits superior definition of abnormal characteristics in a dysplastic breast than in a fatty, atrophic breast, while xeromammography may be more reliable in postmenopausal women with fatty breasts than in women with mammographically dense breasts. One limitation of current ultrasound equipment is the inability to consistently demonstrate microcalcification.

Evaluation of Breast Masses in Hilly Areas, an Initial Experience

“…On the other hand, the contour was smooth in 56%, irregular in 33% and a pseudocapsule was seen in 11% benign masses. Maturo et al found irregularity of contour in 100% cancer cases, Cole-Beuglet et al reported irregular contour in 72% and smooth in 28% cancers, Egan and Egan found smooth margins in 83% benign masses, Skaane and Engedal found irregular contour in 78% and smooth in 22% malignant masses while in benign lesions the margins were smooth in 41% cases [18,19,21,17] . Our findings were in agreement with the observations of Skaane and Engedal that the contour of the mass is one of the most important sonographic features suggestive of benign or malignant nature of the mass.…”

“…On the other hand in benign lesions the sound transmission was neutral in 78% and edge shadowing was seen in 22%. Maturo et al observed edge shadowing in 69% and posterior shadowing in 31% cancers, Cole-Beuglet et al observed strong posterior shadowing in 57% and moderate posterior shadowing in 43% cancers, Jokich et al postulated that neutral acoustic change is the most common feature of fibroadenomas [18,19,20] . Skaane and Engedal found extensive shadowing in 9%, slight shadowing in 55%, edge shadowing in 10% and neutral sound transmission in 24% cases of carcinoma breast.…”

The use of ultrasound in benign breast disorders

“…In symptomatic patients, the use of ultrasound when x-ray reveals areas of ill-defined, asymmetrical, or profound gland density is well recorded [7,11,13,16,[31][32][33], and we have found sonomammography to be more informative than x-ray Additionally, projecting into the cyst is a papilloma (histologically benign). mammography in nearly one-half of the patients with benign disorders undergoing both imaging examinations [19].…”

Avaliação das características vasculares dos nódulos sólidos de mama com ultrassonografia Doppler pré e pós-injeção de contraste por microbolhas

“…Outros autores, na década de 1980 (Maturo et al, 1982;Cole-Beuglet et al, 1983;Heywang et al, 1984), concluíram que lesões benignas típicas, como os fibroadenomas, apresentavam-se homogêneas, bem definidas, redondas ou ovais e sem sombra acústica, enquanto o aspecto ultrassonográfico típico das lesões malignas correspondia a nódulo heterogêneo, mal definido e produtor de sombra acústica. Este último aspecto, entretanto, estava presente em apenas 60 a 90% dos cânceres observados nestes trabalhos.…”