Mammo Flashcards
Mammographic signs of malignancy
Spiculated mass. Pleomorphic microcalcifications. (40% of breast cancers)
Definition of breast mass
Space occupying lesion seen in two different projections. Convex borders. Distorts normal architecture. Increased central density.
Definition of breast focal asymmetry
Confined asymmetry with similar shape on two views. Lacks borders conspicuity of a true mass.
Definition of breast asymmetry
Space occupying lesion seen in only one view.
Descriptors of breast mass (5)
Size. Morphology. Associated calcifications. Associated findings. Location.
Descriptors of breast mass shapes (4)
Round. Oval. Lobular. Irregular.
Descriptors of breast margins (5)
Circumscribed (>75%). Microlobulated (undulated). Obscured. Indistinct (ill-defined). Spiculated.
Definition of circumscribed breast mass
> 75% of mass is circumscribed (well-defined).
Definition of obscured breast mass
Border is likely circumscribed but hidden by normal tissue.
Descriptors of breast density (4)
High. Equal. Fat-containing radiolucency. Non-fat-containing radiolucency.
Differential for breast mass with spiculated margins and or architectural distortion (4)
Breast cancer. Fat necrosis. Scar. Radial Scar.
Definition of Radial Scar/Complex Sclerosing Lesion
Central sclerosis with varying degrees of epithelial proliferation (precancerous).
Differential for well-defined mass (6)
Cyst. Fibrosis. Fibroadenomas. Breast cancer. Lymphoma. Metestases.
Differential for multiple bilateral masses (5)
Cysts. Fibroadenomas. Multiple Papillomas. Metastises. Multifocal breast cancer.
Differential for ill-defined breast mass (3)
Breast cancer. Abscess (usually subareolar in lactating women). Spontaneous Hematomas (coagulopathy).
Differential for fat-containing radiolucent breast mass (5)
Oil cyst (result of trauma). Lipoma. Galactocele. Hamartoma. Fibroadenolipoma.
Description of a breast fibroadenoma
Most common well-defined homogeneous solid mass. Large, coarse and irregular calcifications.
Descriptors of calcifications (4)
Morphology (shape). Distribution. Associated findings. Location.
Benign breast calcifications (10)
Skin/lucent center. Vascular. Coarse/Popcorn. Large/Rod-like. Round (small less than 1 mm, punctuate less than 0.5 mm). Eggshell/Rim. Milk of calcium. Suture. Dystrophic.
Milk of calcium
Sedimented calcifications in macro/microcysts. Amorphous on cranial caudal view. Semilunar, crescent, tea cup shaped on medial lateral oblique view.
Coarse popcorn calcifications
Involuting fibroadenoma.
Large rod-like calcifications
Ductal ectasia and/or secretory calcifications.
Lucent centered calcification
Fat necrosis or calcified debris in ducts.
Eggshell/rim calcifications
Fat necrosis. Calcifications within wall of cysts
Dystrophic calcifications
Post trauma. Radiation changes.
Dot-dash or casting calcifications
Comedocarcinoma type of intraductal carcinoma.
Intermediate concern breast calcifications (2)
Amorphous/Indistinct. Coarse heterogeneous (>0.5 mm but not the size of dystrophic calcifications).
High probability breast calcifications (2)
Fine pleomorphic (varying in size and shapes, less than 0.5 mm). Linear or branching (suggests filling of involved duct).
Calcification distribution modifiers (5)
Diffuse/Scattered. Regional. Grouped/Clustered. Linear. Segmental.
Definition of regional distribution
Scattered in large volume (>2cc) of Breast tissue. Does not conform to duct distribution. Less likely to be malignant.