Magnetic resonance imaging of metaplastic carcinoma of the breast: sonographic and pathologic correlation

Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast is a rare disease. We describe the MRI findings with the correlative sonographic and pathologic features of two cases. On MRI, T2-weighted images demonstrate a relatively well-defined mass with high signal intensity cystic components. Dynamic enhancement subtraction images showed an early enhancing and delayed washout peripheral rim and non-enhancing internal components. A microlobulated, isoechogenic mass with cystic components was seen sonographically, and was histopathology related to necrosis and cystic degeneration. Although these features are not unique, metaplastic carcinoma should be included in the differential diagnosis for breast masses.     

MRI of metaplastic carcinoma of the breast

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to describe the MRI findings of metaplastic carcinoma of the breast and to compare those findings with underlying histopathologic features. CONCLUSION: Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast shows high signal intensity on T2-weighted MRI. This finding is related to the necrotic component of the tumor and may be useful for preoperative diagnosis of metaplastic carcinoma of the breast, although it must be differentiated from mucinous carcinoma and, less frequently, necrotic infiltrating ductal carcinoma.     

Imaging features of metaplastic carcinoma with chondroid differentiation of the breast

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the imaging features--including the mammographic, sonographic, MRI, and bone scintigraphic findings--in 12 patients with metaplastic carcinoma with chondroid differentiation of the breast and to correlate the imaging findings with the pathologic features. CONCLUSION: Metaplastic carcinoma with chondroid differentiation of the breast manifests as a palpable mass and should be included in the differential diagnosis of a large indistinct highdensity mass with amorphous or coarse calcifications on mammography and a relatively circumscribed complex echoic mass with posterior enhancement on sonography. A relatively circumscribed mass with a nonenhancing T2 intermediate- to high-signal-intensity internal component on MRI and an area of intense uptake of 99mTc methylene diphosphonate (MDP) on bone scintigraphy might be useful in suggesting the diagnosis of metaplastic carcinoma with chondroid differentiation.     

Invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast: clinical,mammographic, and sonographic findings with histopathologic correlation

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to investigate the imaging features of invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast, which is a recently described, rare variant of infiltrating ductal carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast usually manifests as a firm, immobile mass. Findings on mammography are of a spiculated, irregular or round, high density mass with or without associated microcalcifications. On sonography, the common findings are of a homogeneously hypoechoic, irregular or microlobulated mass with posterior acoustic shadowing or normal sound transmission. Axillary lymph nodes are frequently involved. Although these findings are not specific and may be seen with other breast malignancies, invasive micropapillary carcinoma should be included in the differential diagnosis for breast masses with these imaging features. Also, radiologic findings may help in the histopathologic differentiation of cases that are difficult to diagnose, such as metastatic tumors.     

乳腺恶性病变的钼靶X线及磁共振表现对照研究

目的:探讨乳腺恶性病变的钼靶X线和MRI表现及与病理结果的关系.方法:回顾性分析38例经穿刺或手术病理证实的乳腺恶性病变的钼靶X线、MRI表现,并与病理结果对比分析.38例中乳腺浸润性导管癌21例,导管原位癌11例,黏液癌3例,腺样囊性癌2例,髓样癌1例.结果:乳腺恶性病变主要表现为乳腺结构及局部血管异常,肿瘤多呈星芒状、蟹足样,边缘多毛刺状、不光滑.钼靶X线示病灶内部密度不均匀,钙化点数量较多,多呈沙粒样,可成簇生长,也可弥散在腺体的一个区内.主要MRI表现为病灶T1WI多呈低、等信号,T2WI多为混杂信号,增强扫描呈明显不均匀强化.结论:钼靶乳腺摄影操作简单,准确性较高,是乳腺恶性病变的首选检查方法.MRI能清楚的显示乳腺内病变的细微结构,提高诊断准确性.     

Systemic diseases affecting the breast: Imaging,diagnosis, and management

Various systemic diseases of benign or malignant etiologies can clinically manifest in the breast. Some imaging findings of breast lesions can be pathognomonic for a given condition, while others are non-specific, mimicking primary breast carcinoma and requiring tissue biopsy for definitive diagnosis. In addition to obtaining a detailed clinical history, radiologists should be familiar with the diverse clinical and imaging characteristics of these conditions to help exclude primary breast cancer and avoid unnecessary interventions. This review aims to discuss the clinical presentations, imaging features, pathologic findings, and management of systemic conditions that may affect the breast.     

Sonographic features of primary breast cancer in men

OBJECTIVE: The imaging studies of eight men with proven primary breast cancer and preoperative sonography and mammography were reviewed and correlated with final pathology reports. CONCLUSION: There were five cases of invasive breast carcinoma and three cases of ductal carcinoma in situ of the papillary subtype. All three cases of papillary ductal carcinoma in situ showed cystic features on sonography. Most (4/5) invasive cancers were solid on sonography. The appearance of a complex cystic mass in the male breast on sonography should suggest the possibility of malignancy and therefore warrants biopsy.     

Adenoid cystic carcinoma: A case of rare breast cancer

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare form of breast cancer accounting for 0.1%-1.0% of all mammary malignancies. It is characterized by an indolent clinical course and favorable prognosis, contrary to other breast cancers. Diagnostic mammogram and breast ultrasound play a pivotal role in the early detection and diagnosis of breast adenoid cystic carcinoma. Treatment may consist of lumpectomy and radiation therapy vs mastectomy alone. Even though rare, late disease recurrence and metastasis has been reported in the literature thus long-term surveillance is of utmost importance for these patients. We will review the literature and discuss the case of a 52-year-old female who presented with a palpable lump of the right breast, which was pathologically proven to be adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast.     

乳腺导管造影在溢液性乳腺癌诊断中的应用

目的：探讨不同病理类型的溢液性乳腺癌在乳腺导管造影中的X线征象,提高对本病的诊断水平。方法：搜集经手术病理证实并行乳腺X线片及腺导管造影检查的乳腺癌108例,溢液性质为血性62例,浆液46例,临床因溢液而疑及乳腺癌。分析不同病理类型乳腺癌（浸润性导管癌64例,浸润性小叶癌23例,其他21例包括髓样癌7例,化生性癌1例,富于脂质癌2例,导管原位癌7例,粘液癌1例,浸润性乳头状癌3例）在乳腺导管造影中的X线征象。结果：乳腺癌导管造影主要征象：鼠尾征13例,导管走行僵直16例,充盈缺损（杯口征）7例,导管扩张99例,截断征（刀切征）24例,导管结构紊乱60例,断续征37例,虫蚀样改变30例,潭湖征32例。108例乳腺癌中有106例合并两种以上征象。浸润性导管癌最多见,64例,占50%;其次为浸润性小叶癌,23例,占21.3%。结论：充分认识溢液性乳腺癌的乳腺导管造影征象,对进一步明确乳腺癌的诊断具有重要价值,合并征象越多,对乳腺癌的诊断价值越高。     

囊性肾癌的CT、超声影像分析(附13例报告)

目的 探讨囊性肾癌的CT、超声特点及诊断价值。资料与方法 回顾性分析13例经手术病理证实的囊性肾癌的CT和超声表现。结果 CT及超声对囊性。肾癌的诊断准确性高，其主要特点为囊壁及分隔的不规则增厚、囊壁结节、钙化，囊液混浊，实性部分增强后强化，实性部分或分隔上出现彩色血流。结论 CT及超声检查对囊性肾癌有较高的诊断价值，但对不典型者可误诊为良性囊肿，应行超声引导下穿刺活检。     

Carcinoma metaplásico condrosarcomatoide de mama,una entidad inusual

Metaplastic carcinomas of the breast are uncommon, accounting for less than 0.2% of all breast cancers. Clinically and radiologically, metaplastic carcinomas are indistinguishable from typical ductal carcinomas, and the diagnosis is made histologically by the finding of a mesenchymal component. We present a case of chondrosarcomatous metaplastic breast carcinoma whose definitive diagnosis required immunohistochemical techniques to confirm the malignant epithelial component of the tumor. Accurate diagnosis is important because this tumor behaves differently: it usually spreads through the blood (whereas typical epithelial carcinomas spread through the lymph vessels), metastases present during follow-up rather than before diagnosis, and the five-year survival rate is 35%.     

Medullary carcinoma of the breast: a malignant lesion mimicking a benign one

Medullary carcinoma of the breast is an unfrequent type of tumor. We present a case of medullary carcinoma of the breast. The patient presented with a palpable breast mass, corresponding on mammography to an obscured mass, which showed a cystic appearance with thick wall on sonography. We review the radiological findings of this type of tumor which should be considered in the differential diagnosis of lesions with well-circumscribed margins.     

Gradually enhancing breast cancer on dynamic MRI

PURPOSE: The aim of our study was to evaluate the frequency and the radiologic and pathologic features of gradually enhancing breast cancers on contrast enhanced dynamic MRI. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 83 patients with pathologically proven breast cancer underwent contrast enhanced dynamic MRI. Breast cancers that showed a gradually enhancing pattern were selected, and their pathological features and the findings in other imaging modalities were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Of 83 lesions, 8 lesions (10%) showed a gradually enhancing pattern on dynamic MRI. The lesions included 3 papillotubular carcinomas, 3 scirrhous carcinomas, one solid-tubular carcinoma, and one mucinous carcinoma. All of them had imaging features suggesting malignancy on mammography and ultrasonography. Histopathologically, all 7 invasive ductal carcinomas showed prominent fibrosis in the stroma, and one showed many dilated ducts. One mucinous carcinoma showed large mucinous pools. CONCLUSION: Some breast cancers may show a gradually enhancing pattern on dynamic MRI. Other imaging features should be taken into account in the differential diagnosis of breast tumors.     

Paget disease of the breast: mammographic, US, and MR imaging findings with pathologic correlation

Paget disease is a rare malignancy of the breast characterized by infiltration of the nipple epidermis by adenocarcinoma cells. The clinical features of Paget disease are characteristic and should increase the likelihood of the diagnosis being made. An important point is that more than 90% of cases of Paget disease are associated with an additional underlying breast malignancy. Paget disease is frequently associated with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in the underlying lactiferous ducts of the nipple-areolar complex; it may even be associated with DCIS or invasive breast cancer elsewhere in the breast, at least 2 cm from the nipple-areolar complex. Nevertheless, mammographic findings may be negative in up to 50% of cases. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging can be useful in patients with Paget disease for evaluation of the nipple-areolar complex and identification of an additional underlying malignancy in the breast. The appropriate surgical treatment must be carefully selected and individualized on the basis of radiologic findings, especially those obtained with breast MR imaging.     

Cystic hypersecretory ductal carcinoma of the breast: a rare cause of cystic breast mass

We present the case of a surgically confirmed, invasive, cystic hypersecretory ductal carcinoma (CHDC) of the breast in a 43-year-old woman. The initial sonography showed a complex cyst, which required a core biopsy; however, the diagnosis was delayed as the patient refused to undergo the biopsy and the cyst decreased in size, as seen on follow-up sonography. Excision biopsy was performed, and invasive CHDC was diagnosed after regrowth of the cystic lesion. Meticulous sonographic evaluation of a cystic breast mass is always important, and pathology confirmation must be considered if the lesion shows features suspicious for malignancy, as a CHDC could be the cause of a cystic breast mass.     

Tubulolobular carcinoma of the breast: clinical, mammographic and sonographic findings

PURPOSE: To determine and quantitate radiologic characteristics of tubulolobular carcinoma of the breast and to report clinical and pathologic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of records of 2872 women who received a diagnosis of breast carcinoma between January 1988 and January 2006 revealed 26 histopathologically proven tubulolobular carcinoma of the breast. Analysis included history; findings at physical examination, mammography, and sonography (US) at the time of diagnosis and in postoperative follow-up, and histopathological results. RESULTS: At physical examination, palpable mass was present in 85% (n=22) of the patients. The mammographic findings were mass in 17 (65%), asymmetric focal density in 2 (8%), architectural distortion in 2 (8%) and negative mammograms in 5 (19%) of the 26 patients. US depicted 25 masses in 24 patients, all of which were hypoechoic, with spiculated (n=13) or microlobulated (n=12) margins. The cancer was clinically occult in 12% (n=3), mammographically occult in 19% (n=5), and radiologically occult in 4% (n=1) of the patients. Histologically, the mean size of the tumor was 1.7cm and 18 (69%) patients were node negative. CONCLUSION: Tubulolobular carcinoma of the breast usually manifests clinically as a firm, immobile mass and mammographically as a spiculated or ill-defined, irregular, isodense mass without microcalcifications. Common findings on sonography include a homogeneously hypoechoic, spiculated or microlobulated mass with posterior acoustic shadowing or normal acoustic transmission. Tubulolobular carcinoma should be included in the differential diagnosis for breast masses with these imaging features.     

囊性肾癌的CT和MRI表现

目的:分析囊性肾癌的CT和MRI表现,旨在提高术前正确诊断率。方法:回顾性分析经手术病理证实的16例囊性肾癌的CT和MRI表现。结果:囊性肾癌16例,囊壁不规则增厚12例,间隔不规则增厚8例,囊壁结节10例;囊性病变内出现异常软组织影6例,和/或囊性病变周围肾实质内出现异常软组织影4例;钙化2例;增强扫描实性部分明显增强8例,中度增强5例,轻度增强3例。结论:囊性肾癌的CT、MR表现有一定特征,表现典型者可做出诊断。     

Breast hamartomas: variable mammographic appearance

The mammograms of 17 women with pathologically proved breast hamartomas were reviewed. Abnormal masses were detected on 12. Nine women had masses with benign features. Two of these had findings considered classic for hamartoma. In three cases, the appearance of the mass was suggestive of carcinoma. The breasts were very dense in four of five women without detectable mass. The findings suggest that the classic mammographic appearance of breast hamartomas is less common than previously reported, which may be explained by earlier detection of small hamartomas.     

Adnexal masses in women with breast cancer: US findings with clinical and histopathologic correlation

PURPOSE: To correlate ultrasonographic (US), clinical, and histopathologic findings in patients with breast cancer who underwent surgery for adnexal masses evident at US. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A database search yielded 54 patients with breast cancer and with adnexal masses at US and histopathologic examinations. Clinical, US, and histopathologic findings were correlated. RESULTS: Forty (74%) patients had benign adnexal masses, and 14 (26%) had malignant masses; three patients had both benign and malignant ovarian masses. Seven patients had primary ovarian cancer, and seven had breast metastases to the ovary. All breast metastases to the ovary were bilateral solid masses at histopathologic examination and occurred in women with stage IV breast carcinoma at the time of US. Eleven ovaries with breast metastases were solid at US. The remaining three ovaries with breast metastases had cystic components at US because of hemorrhage or coexistent benign ovarian cysts. Four of seven patients with primary ovarian carcinoma had bilateral ovarian tumors, and seven of 11 ovarian carcinomas were predominantly cystic at US. No patient with primary ovarian carcinoma had stage IV breast cancer. CONCLUSION: In this small series, half the ovarian malignancies in patients with breast cancer were primary ovarian carcinomas and half were breast metastases to the ovary. Breast metastases to the ovary most frequently are bilateral solid masses at US and are associated with stage IV disease at the time of US.     

Unusual malignant breast lesions: imaging-pathological correlations

This pictorial essay presents the common radiological (mammography and/or ultrasonography) and pathological findings observed in unusual malignant breast lesions, which include well-differentiated subtypes of invasive ductal carcinoma not otherwise specified (tubular, mucinous, papillary, and medullary carcinomas), metaplastic carcinoma, and metastases. This study also includes unusual ultrasonographic appearances of a plasmacytoma.