Venous Congestion of the Breast Mimicking Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Case Report and Review of Literature

Blum, Craig; Baker, Megan K.

doi:10.1111/j.1524-4741.2007.00530.x

Cited by 15 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…At MR imaging, breast edema manifests with prominent increased T2 signal intensity in the skin and subcutaneous tissues (9). In some cases, these findings may even be unilateral and thus mimic inflammatory cancer (35,36). All causes of systemic edema (including congestive heart failure, liver or renal failure, and hypoalbuminemia), lymphedema (lymph node dissection, axillary obstruction from benign or malignant enlarged nodes, or [rarely] pacemakers), and vascular abnormalities (arteriovenous fistulas and vascular stenoses), among other conditions, have been described as bringing about these benign changes in the breast.…”

Section: Edemamentioning

confidence: 96%

Lesions of the Skin and Superficial Tissue at Breast MR Imaging

Kalli

Freer²,

Rafferty³

2010

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Although numerous studies have outlined the benefits of contrast material-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for the detection of breast parenchymal findings, the assessment of lesions of the skin and superficial tissue at breast MR imaging has largely been overlooked. Such lesions, both benign and malignant, are commonly encountered at breast MR imaging, and their detection and diagnosis are often imperative. These lesions include superficial, locally extensive, inflammatory, and recurrent breast cancers; iatrogenic changes; sebaceous cysts; and less prevalent diseases such as granulomatous mastitis and angiosarcomas, among others. As MR imaging continues to be used with increasing frequency in both the screening and diagnostic settings, these lesions will be encountered more often; consequently, a better understanding of which lesions may be ignored and which require further evaluation will become increasingly important. Frequently, MR imaging alone may not clearly indicate the cause of lesions of the breast skin and superficial tissue. However, radiologists should thoroughly assess such lesions, taking into consideration the spectrum of possible causes. Mammography, ultrasonography, consultation with clinicians or dermatologists regarding physical examination findings, and, when necessary, correlation with pathologic findings in biopsy specimens may be used in conjunction with MR imaging to establish both the importance of these lesions and their definitive diagnoses.

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Section: Edemamentioning

confidence: 96%

Lesions of the Skin and Superficial Tissue at Breast MR Imaging

Kalli

Freer²,

Rafferty³

2010

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“…Dermatological causes such as Psoriasis may have the same manifestation; this etiology should be suspected, especially when the thickening is bilateral. Milroy's disease, the congenital absence of the lymphatics, can also produce skin thickening [5, 8]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Congestive Heart Failure versus Inflammatory Carcinoma in Breast

Alikhassi

Omranipour

Alikhassy

2014

Case Reports in Radiology

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Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare highly malignant form of breast cancer. Clinical signs and symptoms with histologic examination usually confirm the diagnosis. There are rare reports of breast edema of congestive heart failure which were difficult to differentiate from inflammatory carcinoma. The differential becomes more difficult when congestive heart failure is associated with unilateral breast edema. We present a case of a 70-year-old woman with congestive heart failure associated with unilateral breast edema and skin thickening simulating inflammatory breast carcinoma on mammography.

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“…However, it often presents as a diagnostic challenge as it may be easily mistaken for other clinical entities. Commonly, these include: mastitis, cellulitis, erysipelas [7], thrombophlebitis, venous congestion [10], allergic reactions, postsurgical lymphoedema [11] or haematoma, postradiotherapy dermatitis, herpes zoster infection, primary squamous, or basal cell carcinoma [12]. In rarer cases, calciphylaxis [13] has been reported to mimic IBC.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diverse Presentations of Carcinoma Erysipelatoides from a Teaching Hospital in Australia

Chow

Tran

Millar

et al. 2012

Case Reports in Dermatological Medicine

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Inflammatory breast carcinoma is a rare form of advanced breast cancer which carries a poor prognosis, even with treatment. Diagnosis is reached on clinical and pathological grounds; however, due to its propensity to mimic other conditions, it may often be delayed or missed by attending physicians. This case series describes four patients seen at our institution with a diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer; 3 patients had a history of previously treated breast malignancy. In these cases, the emergence of a new breast lesion evaded initial diagnosis due to incomplete initial physical examination, falsely reassuring imaging results, lack of recognition that a cellulitis picture can resemble metastatic carcinoma, and inconclusive initial biopsy sections. These obstacles to achieve diagnosis serve to further worsen the prognosis by delaying the initiation of multimodality treatment which can improve survival. The purpose of our paper is to increase awareness among breast cancer specialists of the importance of undressing the patient for basic clinical examination of the breasts, recognition of the appearances of this type of local recurrence of breast cancer, and not to rely purely on ultrasound and mammography due to delay in diagnosis in some of our local cases. Sometimes deeper sections and repeat biopsies are needed to make the diagnosis.

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Venous Congestion of the Breast Mimicking Inflammatory Breast Cancer: Case Report and Review of Literature

Cited by 15 publications

References 11 publications

Lesions of the Skin and Superficial Tissue at Breast MR Imaging

Lesions of the Skin and Superficial Tissue at Breast MR Imaging

Congestive Heart Failure versus Inflammatory Carcinoma in Breast

Diverse Presentations of Carcinoma Erysipelatoides from a Teaching Hospital in Australia

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