Diffuse metastatic involvement of the breast

Metastases to the breast are not very common and, according to the recent literature, usually present as nodules, most often single but sometimes multiple, generally without retraction or thickening of the skin. The authors reviewed 21 such cases from the last 15 years. In six patients the metastatic infiltration presented as diffuse thickening of the skin and increased density of the breast, as can be seen in inflammatory diseases or after radiotherapy. In five of these six women lymphangitic spread of the carcinoma was demonstrated by microscopy.     

Inflammatory breast cancer: imaging findings

To assess the imaging findings of inflammatory breast cancer, we retrospectively analyzed the mammography, ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of nine patients with inflammatory breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer showed skin thickening and nipple-areolar swelling on mammography, ultrasonography, and MRI. Tumor with lymphatic dilatation on ultrasonography and enhancement of thickened skin and parenchyma on MRI can be useful findings in the diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer.     

Inflammatory breast cancer: CT evaluation.

Eleven patients with inflammatory breast carcinoma were examined by computed tomography (CT) prior to treatment with radiation and chemotherapy. Determination was made of skin thickening of the affected breast, presence of diffuse breast tumor infiltration or mass, calcification, adenopathy; and metastases. All affected breasts demonstrated increased skin thickness relative to the nonaffected breast, ranging from 0.7 cm-3 cm. Each could further be characterized as having diffuse infiltration of the breast tissue (5), a focal mass lesion (4), or a combination of mass with associated infiltration (2). Two of the breast masses showed diffuse calcification. Only one patient had disease confined to breast tissue at the time of study. Nine patients presented with adenopathy; 7 axillary, 3 internal mammary, 2 supraclavicular, and 1 hilar. Bilateral adenopathy was noted in two patients. Distant metastases to lung, bone, or stomach were observed in 7 of 11 patients. Distant metastases and degree of adenopathy was not related to skin thickness, degree of tumor infiltration, or presence of a defined mass. Inflammatory breast cancer presents with a spectrum of computed tomography appearances. Computed tomography aids in the assessment of local disease, adenopathy, and distant metastases.     

Inflammatory breast carcinoma in magnetic resonance imaging: a comparison with locally advanced breast cancer

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Although inflammatory breast carcinoma (IBC) accounts for 1%-4% of all breast cancer cases, the appearance of this highly malignant tumor in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is still not well characterized. The aim of this study was to identify typical imaging features of IBC in comparison with noninflammatory locally advanced breast carcinoma (LABC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: MRIs of 48 patients with IBC were compared with an equivalent cohort of 52 subjects with LABC. Age and histopathologic subtype were equivalent between the two groups. To delineate characteristic features, a multitude of dynamic and morphologic parameters were evaluated using T1- and T2-weighted sequences. RESULTS: No significant differences of prevalences could be found for the following criteria: dynamic tumor signal characteristics, prominent vessels, perifocal edema, axillary lymph node involvement, morphology of focal masses, and morphologic pattern of non-mass like enhancement. Otherwise, the quantity of focal masses and the spatial distribution of the tumoral infiltration significantly differed between the two cancer groups. The following parameters occurred more frequently in the IBC cases: edema (cutaneous/subcutaneous 81.3%, perimamillar 70.8%, diffuse 89.6%, prepectoral 72.9%, intramuscular pectoral 41.7%), thickening (75.0%) and pathologic enhancement (60.4%) of Cooper's ligaments, skin thickening (83.3%), punched-out sign (initially strong, focal increase of some dermal or subcutaneous parts followed by slow-continuous enhancement of the surrounding skin; 56.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Inflammatory breast carcinoma seems to represent a specific biological entity resulting in typical MRI characteristics. Some of the parameters are supposed to visualize the characteristic extensive lymphovascular infiltration and therefore may improve the diagnosis of IBC.     

Occult inflammatory breast cancer: review of clinical, mammographic, US and pathologic signs

PURPOSE: To examine the clinical, radiologic and pathologic findings of occult inflammatory breast cancer (OIBC) in order to identify features useful for diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 19 women with OIBC observed at our Department between 1992 and 2001. We analysed the clinical history, mammographic, ultrasonographic, and pathologic findings and investigated overall survival (OS), prognostic variables and radio-pathologic correlations. RESULTS: The most common mammographic findings were: diffusely increased density (52.63%), trabecular thickening (42.1%), mass (36.84%). The most common US findings were axillary lymphadenopathy (68.75%), skin thickening (43.75%) and mass (56.25%). At least one inflammatory sign was found in 14 women (74%) at mammography (subcutaneous thickening, trabecular thickening, diffuse increase in density) or at US (subcutaneous thickening, diffuse increase in echogenicity due to oedema, lymph vessel dilatation). Estrogen receptors (ER) were present in 63.2% and Progesterone receptors (PgR) in 36.8%. Significant prognostic variables were ER and Ki 67. CONCLUSIONS: The typical radiological pattern of clinical inflammatory breast carcinoma is less frequently present in OIBC; nevertheless the radiologist must pay attention because frequently OIBC presents just one radiological sign and this should be enough for a diagnostic suspicion. Moreover, the absence of clinical and radiological inflammatory signs does not exclude inflammatory breast cancer because OIBC can manifest at imaging as a mass or isolated calcifications. ER and PgR are positive in a high percentage of patients and confirm that OIBC has a better prognosis than clinical inflammatory breast cancer.     

Inflammatory breast carcinoma: mammographic,ultrasonographic, clinical,and pathologic findings in 142 cases

PURPOSE: To determine and quantitate radiologic characteristics of inflammatory breast carcinoma and to report clinical and pathologic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of records of 2,733 women who received a diagnosis of breast carcinoma between January 1988 and May 2000 revealed 142 histologically proved inflammatory carcinomas. Analysis included history; findings at physical examination, mammography, and ultrasonography (US); and histologic type of inflammatory carcinoma. RESULTS: At physical examination, skin changes (n = 115, 81%) were the most common findings. A palpable mass was noted in 62% (n = 88), with axillary lymph node involvement in 68% (n = 96) of the carcinomas. Mammography revealed findings in carcinomas: skin thickening, 84% (n = 119); diffusely increased density, 37% (n = 53); trabecular thickening, 81% (n = 115); mass, 16% (n = 23); asymmetric focal density, 61% (n = 87); microcalcifications, 56% (n = 80); nipple retraction, 43% (n = 61); and axillary lymphadenopathy, 24% (n = 34). US showed changes in carcinomas: skin thickening, 96% (n = 136); parenchymal echogenicity changes, 73% (n = 104); dilated lymphatic channels, 68% (n = 96); solid mass, 80% (n = 114); pectoral muscle invasion, 10% (n = 14); focal areas of parenchymal acoustic shadowing, 37% (n = 52); and axillary lymphadenopathy, 73% (n = 104). CONCLUSION: Presence of isolated inflammatory signs is sufficient to suggest inflammatory breast carcinoma clinically. Inflammatory breast carcinoma has a mammographic pattern of inflammatory changes, such as skin thickening and stromal coarsening and/or diffusely increased breast density with or without an associated mass and/or malignant-type microcalcifications. US is helpful not only in depiction of masses masked by the edema pattern but also in demonstration of skin and pectoral muscle invasion and axillary involvement.     

炎性乳癌的MRI表现特征及鉴别诊断

目的探讨炎性乳癌的MRI表现特征。方法临床触诊阳性在X线表现均呈非对称局限致密影的10例患者,行乳腺MR检查并经手术病理证实的炎性乳癌,依据乳腺影像报告和数据系统(BI-RADS)MRI标准,回顾性分析病变形态学,T1WI及T2WI信号强度,强化特征及动态增强曲线类型。结果 10例在MRI上表现为:肿块型4例,非肿块样强化6例,动态增强后呈大片及团片状不均匀强化,呈区域性分布3例,弥漫性分布3例,病变部位在中心区4例,在背侧2例,早期强化明显9例,T2WI信号呈低信号7例,等信号3例,动态增强后时间-信号呈流出型6例,平台型4例;间接征像:乳腺较健侧增大4例,乳头凹陷8例,弥漫性皮肤增厚10例,以乳晕后及乳腺内下侧明显6例,皮下脂肪层浑浊10例,凿突征6例,乳后间隙模糊或消失5例,胸大肌浸润(脂肪层中断3例,病理性增强3例),血管较健侧增多,增粗7例,腋下淋巴结病理性增大4例。结论 MR乳腺多参数成像和动态增强联合使用,可对炎性乳癌术前作出正确诊断。     

乳腺非霍奇金淋巴瘤的影像表现

目的 复习10例乳腺非霍奇金淋巴瘤（NHL）的影像学表现,以期提高诊断准确率。材料与方法 回顾性分析10例经组织学及临床随诊证实的乳腺NHL影像表现。原发3例,继发7例,其中双侧受累3例。乳腺X线摄片10例,B超检查8例,CT检查2例。结果 乳腺X线摄片表现为孤立结节2例,乳腺大片密度增高及弥漫性皮肤增厚5例,双侧乳腺多发结节1例,双侧乳腺多发模糊小片影2例。无1例有成簇微小钙化、毛刺或肿物局部皮肤增厚、回缩。B超表现为轮廓规则或不规则的不均质低回声结节或肿块,后方透声增强2例,部分增强1例,无增强5例,皮肤增厚2例。CT扫描见多发结节及腋窝淋巴结肿大1例,乳腺弥漫性密度增高、皮肤增厚、乳头轻度回缩及纵隔、腋窝淋巴结肿大、胸大肌浸润、胸腔积液1例。结论 乳腺NHL无特异性的影像学表现,最常见的影像表现为乳腺弥漫性密度增高、皮肤增厚,其次为孤立或多发结节,少数亦可表现为乳腺内不规则的模糊小片状阴影。原发和继发病变的影像表现无明显区别。X线摄片结合B超及临床所见有助于提示NHL的诊断。     

Primary inflammatory carcinoma of the breast: retrospective review of mammographic findings

OBJECTIVE: Our goal was to describe the mammographic characteristics of primary inflammatory carcinoma of the breast. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified the medical records of 43 women who participated in a chemotherapy protocol for primary inflammatory carcinoma of the breast between 1994 and 1997. Mammograms were available for review in 26 women (age range, 34-78 years; mean age, 56 years). Two radiologists independently reviewed the 26 mammograms obtained before patients underwent treatment. A third observer was the final arbiter when needed. RESULTS: Mammographic findings included skin thickening in 24 patients (92%), diffusely increased density in 21 patients (81%), trabecular thickening in 16 patients (62%), axillary lymphadenopathy in 15 patients (58%), architectural distortion or focal asymmetric density in 13 patients (50%), and nipple retraction in 10 patients (38%). Malignant-appearing calcifications were seen in six patients (23%), and a mass was seen in four patients (15%). CONCLUSION: Diffuse mammographic abnormalities such as skin thickening, increased density, trabecular thickening, and axillary lymphadenopathy are common at presentation in patients with primary inflammatory carcinoma of the breast. Mammographic masses and malignant-appearing calcifications are uncommon manifestations of this disease.     

The xeroradiographic appearances of some uncommon malignant mammary neoplasms

The clinical and xeroradiographic appearances are described of four patients with malignant lymphomatous involvement of the breast, two with breast involvement by acute leukaemia, and four with primary fibrosarcoma of the breast. In one patient with malignant lymhoma and multiple palpable masses, the radiological appearance resembled benign mammary dysplasia, but in the three other patients, one with a discrete clinical mass, and two with diffuse clinical involvement, radiological examination of the breast showed skin thickening with diffuse abnormalities of the trabecular pattern, most marked in the subdermal area. One of the patients with leukaemia had a discrete palpable mass and the other had diffuse clinical involvement, but the radiological appearances in both patients were similar and resembled those of a carcinoma. The clinical and radiological appearance of the patients with fibrosarcoma were those of a benign cyst or a fibroadenoma.     

Inflammatory breast carcinoma and locally advanced breast carcinoma: characterisation with MR imaging

Purpose

This study was done to identify the typical magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings of inflammatory breast carcinoma (IBC) in comparison with noninflammatory locally advanced breast carcinoma (LABC).

Materials and methods

MR images of 30 patients with IBC (T4d) were compared with those of a cohort of 30 patients with LABC (T3/T4a?Cc). The age distribution was approximately equal in the two groups. MR images were assessed for the following features: skin thickening (>4 mm), skin oedema, architectural distortion, enhancement pattern (mass-like/non-mass-like), time-signal intensity curve (continuous-persistent type/wash-out type), skin enhancement. Fisher??s exact text was used to compare MR imaging appearances of IBC and LABC (significant p value <0.05).

Results

Skin involvement and enhancement pattern differed between groups: skin thickening was present in 16/30 IBC (53%) vs 8/30 LABC cases (27%, p=0.06), skin oedema was present in 26/30 IBC (87%) vs 8/30 LABC (27%, p < 0.0001), and skin enhancement in 10/30 IBC (33%) vs 2/30 LABC (7%, p=0.02); non-mass-like enhancement was present in 22/30 IBC (73%) vs 12/30 LABC (40%, p=0.02).

Conclusions

IBC is a distinct clinical and pathological entity resulting in typical MR imaging features. Skin changes (thickening, oedema, enhancement) related to neoplastic involvement of the dermal lymphatics are suggestive of IBC and should prompt a skin biopsy to confirm or rule out the diagnosis.     

Unilateral breast edema in congestive heart failure--a mimic of diffuse carcinoma.

Mammography in a patient with congestive heart failure showed unilateral skin thickening and a reticular pattern mimicking diffuse carcinoma. Resolution after treatment of the heart failure established the abnormality as secondary to dependent edema.     

Cutaneous angiosarcoma of the breast 7 years after lumpectomy and radiation therapy

A case of angiosarcoma of the skin of the breast is described in a woman 7 years after a primary breast carcinoma was treated by means of lumpectomy and irradiation. On mammograms, the angiosarcoma showed redevelopment of skin thickening and increase in breast density. Clinically, the skin showed patchy discoloration. Although there is an established association of angiosarcoma with lymphedema and therapeutic irradiation, there have been few other reports of this rare complication of local therapy for breast carcinoma. Recognition of the mammographic and clinical manifestations may help in the earlier diagnosis of additional cases.     

乳腺原位癌MRI表现和诊断价值

目的：探讨MRI对乳腺原位癌的诊断价值。方法：回顾性分析9例经病理学证实的乳腺原住癌的MRI表现,所有患者均行MRI平扫及灌注成像。结果：所有病变于T1WI呈低信号,7例T2WI呈混杂稍高信号或高信号、2例呈等信号。增强扫描示6例呈非肿块样强化,其中2例呈线样／导管样强化,3例呈斑片状强化,1例为弥漫性强化;3例呈肿块样强化。时间-信号强度曲线：平台型7例,上升型1例,廓清型1例。灌注成像测量的灌注参数包括洗进（Washin）、洗出（Washout）、达峰时间（TTP）、最大信号强度值（MIPt）及阳性强化积分（PEI）,其均值依次为756．84±48．70、-0．0856±8．99、248．51±22．52、464．51±28．43、1282．11±96．86,与正常乳腺组织各参数值比较差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：乳腺原位癌以局灶性强化最常见,时间-信号强度曲线以平台型为主,MRI在乳腺原位癌诊断中具有一定的价值,MR灌注成像也为原位癌的诊断提供一种新的方法。     

炎性乳腺癌的临床及影像学特征

目的 探讨炎性乳腺癌(inflammatory breast cancer,IBC)的临床及影像学特征.资料与方法 回顾性分析23例(24个患乳)经手术病理证实的IBC患者的临床及影像资料.结果 IBC钼靶X线表现:皮肤增厚24个,并伴皮下脂肪层混浊见"索条"状、"网格"状致密影及乳腺小梁增粗,乳晕区皮肤增厚8个;乳腺弥漫性密度增高17个,片状密度增高5个;结节肿块9个;微小钙化12个;乳头回缩7个.超声:乳腺皮肤增厚24例,实性腺体回声改变18个,有皮肤淋巴管扩张11个,实性肿块13个,胸壁肌肉受侵1个,局灶性腺体回声改变6个,腋下淋巴结肿大23例.结论 IBC具有典型的临床及X线表现.超声有助于发现肿块及有无胸壁肌肉及腋下淋巴结受侵.     

Enhancing area surrounding breast carcinoma on MR mammography: comparison with pathological examination

The enhancing area surrounding breast carcinoma on MR mammography is correlated with findings from pathological examination. We studied 194 patients with breast cancer who underwent preoperative MR mammography. Of all malignant lesions presenting with an enhancing surrounding area on MR mammography, morphologic features including long spicules, a ductal pattern, diffuse enhancement or nodules were evaluated and compared with histopathological examination. A double breast coil was used; we performed a 3D FLASH sequence with contiguous coronal slices of 2 mm, before and after injection of 0.2 mmol/kg GD-DTPA, and subtraction images were obtained. In total, 297 malignant lesions were detected at MR mammography and 101 of them had one or more types of enhancing surrounding area. In 49 of the 53 cancers with long spicules and in 49 of the 55 cancers with surrounding ductal pattern of enhancement, pathological examination showed in situ and/or invasive carcinoma. Multiple nodules adjacent to the carcinoma were seen in 20 patients and corresponded with six cases of invasive and ten cases of ductal in situ carcinoma. A diffuse enhancing area next to a mass was seen in ten patients and consisted of carcinoma in all cases: seven in situ and three invasive carcinomas. Enhancing areas including long spicules, a ductal pattern, noduli, or diffuse enhancement surrounding a carcinoma corresponded with in situ or invasive extension of the carcinoma in 92.5, 89, 80 and 100% of cases, respectively.     

Inflammatory breast cancer: MR imaging findings

Purpose

This paper describes the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging features of primary inflammatory breast cancer (IBC).

Materials and methods

Two radiologists reviewed the MR examinations of 14 women with a pathological diagnosis of IBC. Images were assessed for skin thickening, oedema, nipple retraction, architectural distortion, type and extent of parenchymal and cutaneous enhancement and enhancement kinetics over time, axillary and internal mammary lymphadenopathy, pectoral muscle enhancement and additional findings.

Results

Skin thickening was identified in eight patients (58%), oedema in nine (64%), nipple retraction in two (14%), architectural distortion in eight (58%), mass-like enhancement in five (36%), non-mass-like enhancement in nine (64%) with washout enhancement curve in 12 (86%) and plateau curve in two (14%), axillary lymphadenopathy in 12 (86%) and internal mammary artery lymphadenopathy in two (14%), and pectoral muscle enhancement in one (7%). Additional findings included increased breast volume in two patients (14%), prepectoral fluid in four (28%) and hypertrophic internal mammary artery in three (21%).

Conclusions

The most characteristic MR findings of IBC are skin thickening, oedema, architectural distortion, masslike enhancement with washout curve and axillary lymphadenopathy; less frequent ones are nipple retraction, mass-like enhancement and internal mammary lymphadenopathy. Prepectoral fluid is frequent but is not a sign of infiltration.     

原发性乳腺淋巴瘤的CT及MR表现

目的探讨原发性乳腺淋巴瘤的CT及MR特征,提高对本病影像学表现的认识。方法回顾性分析经病理证实的14例原发性乳腺淋巴瘤患者的CT及MR资料,年龄32～77岁,中位年龄54岁。所有患者皆行CT增强扫描,其中6例行MR检查。结果14例病灶大小2．2～11．5cm。所有病变密度或信号均匀,未见毛刺及钙化。其主要有三种表现：①单发结节或肿块型：占64．3％（9/14）。增强CT除1例呈环形伴结节样强化外,其他皆均匀中等度强化。乳头未见凹陷,皮肤未见增厚,乳后间隙未见侵犯。MRI脂肪抑制T。wI表现为稍高信号,DWl显示扩散明显受限,ADC值显著降低,约0．45×10^-3m㎡/s～0．73×10^-3m㎡/s,时间～信号曲线均呈平台型（Ⅱ型）曲线;②多发肿块型：占14．3％（2/14）。病灶直径较大,为数个结节融合所致。密度信号改变同单发结节或肿块型相似,但占位效应明显,乳后问隙狭窄;③弥漫型：占21．4％（3/14）。病灶直径巨大,范围广泛,可累及两个乳腺象限至整个乳腺,占位效应最明显。病灶强化不均匀,MR脂肪抑制T2WI见高信号分隔,增强后分隔明显强化,可伴有乳后间隙受侵,皮肤广泛增厚,但乳头未见凹陷。结论原发性乳腺淋巴瘤的影像学表现具有一定的特征性。当出现乳腺内无毛刺及钙化的结节、肿块,MRIT2WI脂肪抑制序列呈稍高信号,ADC值显著降低、或伴一侧乳腺皮肤广泛增厚而无乳头凹陷,应考虑原发性乳腺淋巴瘤可能。     

MR imaging of the skin and nipple of the breast: differentiation between tumour recurrence and post-treatment change

Contrast-enhanced MR imaging of the breast has been found to be valuable in the assessment of local recurrence of previously treated breast cancer. We looked specifically at the appearances of the skin and nipple of the treated breast in order to describe the appearances of post-treatment change and recurrence in this region. Thirty-nine women treated for breast cancer had MR imaging of one or both breasts reviewed retrospectively with particular attention to the nipple and skin. The skin and chest wall were assessed for patients with mastectomies. All available histology of the skin and/or nipple, obtained following MR imaging, was reviewed. In patients who did not undergo surgery following MR imaging, clinical follow-up was obtained. Six of 39 cases had nodular enhancing areas seen on MR imaging, which correlated with histology demonstrating tumour recurrence within the skin and/or nipple. Of the remaining 33 patients, changes of linear or diffuse enhancement were seen in the skin and/or nipple of 15 patients. These changes were shown to be benign post-treatment changes at surgery/biopsy in 4 cases or by clinical follow-up in the remainder. In this article we demonstrate differing patterns of contrast enhancement within the skin and nipple in recurrent breast carcinoma vs. post-treatment changes. This suggests that contrast-enhanced MR imaging of the breast may be a useful tool in differentiating tumour recurrence from post-treatment changes within the skin and nipple.     

原发性乳腺淋巴瘤X线表现及与病理相关性探讨

目的探讨原发性乳腺淋巴瘤钼靶X线表现特征及其与病理相关性，提高影像医师对该病的认识。方法回顾性复习27例经手术病理证实的原发性乳腺淋巴瘤，其中术前有完整钼靶X线资料的患者为14例。对该14例患者的临床、钼靶X线表现特征及病理进行了回顾性分析。患者均为女性，年龄28～56岁。右乳7例，左乳6例，双乳1例。结果14例原发性乳腺淋巴瘤中，13例为非霍奇金淋巴瘤(Non-Hodgkin lymphoma，NHL)(弥漫型12例，结节型1例)，1例为霍奇金淋巴瘤(Hodgkin lymphoma，HL)。乳腺X线片上9例表现为单乳单发肿块，2例表现为单乳多发肿块，1例为双乳多发肿块，2例表现为单侧乳腺致密浸润伴皮肤增厚。X线片上共发现18个肿块，肿块直径从0．7—5．0cm，平均直径2．6cm，其中13个肿块边缘清楚，5个肿块边缘表现为部分清楚部分不清楚，均未见毛刺、钙化或漏斗征及皮肤凹陷征等乳腺癌典型X线征象。此外，该组资料显示淋巴瘤X线表现与其组织病理学类型无相关性。结论原发性乳腺淋巴瘤的临床及影像学表现缺乏特异性，最后诊断需依靠病理学确诊。如临床乳腺检查考虑恶性且伴有腋下肿大淋巴结，而X线征象表现为良性或不典型乳腺癌者应提示除有不典型髓样癌可能外，还应考虑到淋巴瘤，及时做针吸或切取活检，有利于临床选取恰当的治疗方案。