breast Flashcards
What is the most common and effective screening tool for breast?
mammo
used for screening and diagnostic purposes
what are some limitations of mammo?
dense breast tissue cant differentiate cystic vs solid lesions limited localization malignant vs benign features human error
what are some advantages of breast us?
painless low cost non-ionizing can differentiate cystic vs solid able to localize masses assists in biopsy guidance
what are limitations of breast us?
operator and equipment dependent
benign vs malignant features
microcalcs detection
explain what the anatomy of the breast is and what can play a role in composition
is an exocrine gland with the primary function to produce milk
made of glandular, fatty and fibrous connective tissues, vessels, lymphatics and nerves
age and hormonal status can play a role in composition
what is the function of the glandular elements? stromal elements?
- function to produce and convey milk
- consist of fat, fibrous connective tissues, blood vessels, lymph and nerves
what is precocious puberty?
development of both breasts before 8yp
list some developmental anomalies
congenital nipple inversion polythelia (extra nipple, most common) polymastia - complete extra breast hypoplasia or hypertrophy amastia amazia - absence of breast tissue but nipple is present
explain what coopers ligaments are
suspensory ligaments that provide support to the breast and enclose the fat lobules
explain the breast lymphatics
drainage starts in the lobules near the lactiferous ducts, flows through the intramammary nodes and lymph vessels into a subareolar plexus
intramammary nodes are located mostly in the UOQ near the axilla
what types of lymph nodes are in the breast?
axillary (75% of drainage)
internal mammary
supraclavicular
what are the 3 breast layers
premammary (subcutaneous fat)
mammary (parenchymal)
retromammary layer (fat layer)
what does the mammary layer consist of? (what little pieces of anatomy)
15-20 overlapping nodes in a radial pattern
- each lobe containing 20-40 terminal ductolobular units (TDLUs)
- composed of a lobule and an extralobular terminal duct
explain what a TDLU is
the functional units of the breast
- ductules turn into acini during pregnancy (smallest functional units of the breast, produce milk)
terminal duct continues into the lobule becoming an intralobular terminal duct
explain the pathway out of the breast from the acini thru the nipple
acini - intralobular duct - extralobular duct - lactiferous ducts - major lactiferous duct - lactiferous sinus - nipple
what is seen in the premammary layer
coopers ligaments fat lobules (separated by coopers ligaments
wat is seen in the mammary layer
possibly major lactiferous ducts (<2mm usually)
glandular tissue
is the layer where sonographic appearances vary the most
briefly explain the male breast
consists mostly of fatty tissue, small amounts of fibrous connective tissue
thicker skin and larger muscles
the most significant breast conditions in men are gynecomastia and cancer
what are standard mammo screening views?
craniocaudal (CC) and medial lateral oblique (MLO)
which mammo view shows greatest amount of UOQ breast tissue and axillary tail?
MLO
-masses appear higher or lower on this view than in reality due to the oblique angle (45* +/- 15*)
what is the term used to describe where masses might actually lie in the breast compared to the mammo image
“muffins rise, lead falls”
- Medial masses can lie HIGHER in the breast than shown on MLO
- Lateral masses may actually be LOWER in the breast than shown on MLO
what are the most common causes of breast lumps in women 35-50yo
what are most related to
benign simple cysts
true cysts - epithelial lined fluid filled masses
most are related to fibrocystic change (FCC)
what is the mammo appearance of a simple cyst
round/oval, smooth margins, water density masses may have slightly higher density than surrounding parenchyma
explain fibrocystic change (FCC)
is the most common benign diffuse breast condition, most symptomatic during ages 35-55
hormone imbalances affect the ducts, lobules and connective tissues of the TDLUs
what are the key features of FCC
s/s?
epithelial hyperplasia, adenosis, stromal fibrosis and cyst formation
tenderness, pain, fullness, nodularity
typically bilat
nipple discharge
sonographic appearance of FCC?
multiple cysts in both breasts (occasionally complicated)
tiny echogenic foci
increased echogenicity of parenchyma
solid nodules may be seen
nodular adenosis can appear mass like
sclerosing adenosis can be difficult to differentiate from cancer
what is the most common benign mass in lactating patients?
what can it become if it persists beyond the lactation period
galactocele
- milk cyst from an obstruction of a lactiferous duct
subaerolar location is common, can persist beyond the lactation period and become a lipid cyst
- may become infected and can rupture
ultrasound findings of a galactocele?
round, oval, circumscribed uni or multiloculated internal echoes or completely anechoic fluid fat levels no internal vascularity possible rim calcs in older lesions
what causes a sebaceous/epidermal inclusion cyst?
from obstructed sebaceous glands or hair follicles
contains sebum or keratin
superficial in location
ultrasound findings of sebaceous cysts and epidermal inclusion cysts?
round/oval thin walls and circumscribed within the dermis or just beneath and projecting into the fat focal skin thickening at the cyst low-medium level internal echoes, fluid fat levels, or completely anechoic posterior enhancement no internal BF may develop wall calcs over time
what are 3 benign inflammatory conditions?
mastitis, abscess or Mondor disease
when is mastitis most common?
what are the etiologies?
most common in pregnancy and lactation but can affect all women
non-lactational women: infected/ruptured cyst or a duct, post sx infection, periductal inflammation, granulomatous conditions
peurperal mastitis: related to lactation, is the most common cause of acute mastitis
ultrasound appearance of mastitis?
dilated infected ducts appearing as thick walls and internal echoes from congealed milk
calcs can develop
look for abscess formation
CD may show increased vascularity along duct wall
explain a breast abscess and the signs/symptoms
localized area of pus and necrotic tissue
subareolar is most common location but can occur anywhere
signs of infection, pain, redness and skin thickening, pus/discharge, palpable mass, enlarged tender nodules
ultrasound appearance of abscesses
variable depending on the stage thickened or hyperemic skin increased echogenicity of subcutaneous fat from edema* dilated lymph vessels interstitial fluid hyperemic surrounding tissue
what does an organized abscess look like?
complex, complicated fluid collection with internal echoes, septations and possible layered debris
walls can be thick, irregular or indistinct
explain Mondor disease
think veins
rare in both females and males
is acute thrombophlebitis of superficial veins of breast/chest wall
most common location: lateral thoracic, thoracoepigastric, superior epigastric veins
signs and symptoms of Mondors?
tender, palpable, superficial cord like mass
thickened skin, redness and warmth
sonographic appearance of mondor disease?
dilated tubular vein with internal echoes from clotted blood
incomplete compressibility
absent blood flow if fully occluded
increased echogenicity and thickness or surrounding tissues and skin
list benign trauma related masses
hematomas
seromas
fat necrosis
post sx scars
what are some s/s of hematomas?
bruising
skin thickening
tenderness
palpable mass
what is the sonographic appearance of a hematoma
appearances vary depending on the stage round, oval or irregular may be anechoic, complicated with internal echoes, echogenic clot, septations, fibrous strands absence of internal BF posterior enhancement is variable
what is a seroma?
s/s? is the patient febrile or afebrile?
a collection of serum
palpable mass at sx site
afebrile
large may cause pain and stretching of the skin
what is the sonographic appearance of a seroma?
fluid collection of variable appearance
typically conforms to the sx cavity right behind the scar
obvious posterior enhancement
absence of internal vascularity
explain fat necrosis of the breast
consists of what? what can it turn into?
an inflammatory ischemic process due to trauma
consists of necrosis, liquefaction, and hemorrhage to a focal area of fat due to disruption of blood supply
may turn into a lipid cyst or a fibrous sclerotic mass
what are the s/s of fat necrosis of the breast?
*can mimic cancer so clinical hx is important
palpable area in the area of the injury, skin thickening, dimpling and nipple retraction that is usually painless
what is the sonographic appearance of fat necrosis?
variable
early stage: increased echogenicity of fat @ the area of trauma with a hypo/anechoic area
can evolve into a solid, suspicious appearing lesion due to fibrosis and granuloma formation (fibrotic fat necrosis*)
no internal vascularity
what is the mammo appearance of fat necrosis?
variable oil cyst with egg shell calcs around the cyst fat density (benign feature) fibrotic changes may mimic cancer
when can a post surgical scar form?
what are the s/s?
following involution of a hematoma, seroma, or abscess
can also occur post radiation
sometimes can be palpable
abundant scarring can cause skin thickening, firmness and retraction
what is the mammo appearance of a post surgical scar?
radiodense, changes appearance on different views
architectural distortion, focal asymmetry, spiculated with dystrophic calcs
decreasing size of sequential mammograms
sonographic findings of a post sx scar?
hypoechoic area with acoustic shadow skin thickening/retraction is common changes appearance in different planes pressure can flatten the scar and reduce shadowing no vascularity diminish over time
what % of breast biopsy return benign results?
80%
when is a mass minimally assigned birads 1? birads 2 (benign) or birads 3 (probably benign) birads 4?
- if one or more findings is present
- if no suspicious findings are present, but specific benign findings are present
- if benign findings are not present (nodule is classified as indeterminate with low suspicion of malignancy, bx is recommended)