title: [Stretched veins, a new, indirect sign of malignant breast tumours (author's transl)].
abstract: The diagnosis of malignant breast tumours depends on direct and indirect radiological signs. Amongst the latter, considerable emphasis has been placed in the literature on the finding of dilated veins. An analysis of the literature and of nearly 1,500 examinations has shown, however that this sign is not as reliable as has been thought. A new sign has been noticed, which has so far not been emphasised in the literature. This is stretching of the veins. It is not a direct sign, but as an indirect sign it is a more reliable indication of malignancy than dilatation of veins. Stretching of veins may also occur in benign conditions, but it is twice as frequent in the presence of malignant tumours. It is therefore considered that the presence of stretched veins is an indirect sign of malignant breast tumours.
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002293:Adenocarcinoma, Scirrhous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000368:Aged; D001940:Breast / Q000098:blood supply*; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D010690:Phlebography
vernacular_title: Gestreckte Vene als neues, indirektes Zeichen des malignen Brusttumors